More than 1,600 domestic flights have been disrupted and millions of residents face toxic haze across Southeast Asia as Indonesia resists declaring ongoing peatland blazes a national disaster. While neighboring governments step in with flight cancellations and health subsidies, Indonesian officials maintain that domestic forces retain the capacity to contain the fires.
Flights Grounded and Health Subsidies Revived Amid Cross-Border Haze
The prolonged forest and land fires have choked regional air corridors, forcing extensive cancellations and straining public health infrastructure. Data from the Ministry of Transportation’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation shows that 1,673 scheduled domestic flights were disrupted by wildfire smoke between August 11 and October 9. Regional budget carriers bore the heaviest burden, with Citilink recording 478 affected flights, alongside disruptions at airports across Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua.
The fallout extends well beyond Indonesian borders. Singapore ranked among the world’s most polluted major cities in recent days, prompting the government to reactivate subsidies for haze-related health care for the first time since 2015. In Malaysia, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said last Thursday that he had contacted Prabowo over the “alarming” level of haze affecting Malaysia and the wider region. Flight disruptions mounted as Malaysia Airlines canceled flights to and from Jeddah and Madinah through October 17, while low-cost carrier Firefly extended cancellations between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
Government Refusal of Disaster Status Draws Domestic Environmental Criticism
Despite international offers of assistance from Singapore and Malaysia, Coordinating Political and Security Affairs Minister Dudung Abdurachman stated on Monday that Jakarta had no plans to declare the crisis a national disaster. “We are still capable of handling it,” Dudung said after meeting with President Prabowo Subianto, adding that international assistance was not discussed during the meeting.
Environmental organizations argue that the refusal to elevate the emergency hampers the response. Greenpeace forest campaigner Belgis Habiba told The Jakarta Post that the scale of the crisis warrants a national disaster declaration, criticizing the government for failing to prevent blazes despite longstanding scientific warnings regarding El Niño-linked drought. Similarly, Uli Arta Siagian of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) questioned Jakarta’s reluctance to accept foreign help, noting that public safety must take precedence.
Political figures have also weighed in on the deployment of resources. Daniel Johan, a House of Representatives Commission IV member overseeing forestry, stated that the National Awakening Party (PKB) fully supports a national disaster declaration to unlock greater funding and manpower for affected regions in Kalimantan and Sumatra.
Police Pursue Corporate Suspects While Firefighters Battle Peatland Blazes
As the dry-season fires persist, law enforcement agencies are targeting entities linked to illegal land clearing. The Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) named nine individuals as corporate suspects in ongoing investigations as of October 13, according to ANTARA News. Police Commissioner Pipit Subiyanto, Head of Subdirectorate III at Bareskrim, reported that investigators have handled 98 corporate fire reports across 10 regional police offices, with West Kalimantan recording the highest volume at 33 reports.
On the ground, firefighting efforts remain concentrated in six priority provinces: Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, South Sumatra, Jambi, and Riau. President Prabowo Subianto ordered authorities to prioritize Central Kalimantan, where more than 513 hectares had recently burned in Tanjung Puting National Park. The government authorized Rp 2 billion to drill 200 water wells and quadrupled pump deployments in the park. However, ground operations face severe hurdles as thick smoke layers impede aerial water drops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Singapore revived its haze-related health subsidy scheme?
Singapore reactivated its haze-related health subsidy scheme for the first time since 2015 because smoke from Indonesian fires blanketed the region for weeks, causing air quality to rank among the world’s most polluted major cities in recent days.
How many corporate suspects have Indonesian police identified in the fire probes?
The Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) named nine individuals as corporate suspects across regional jurisdictions as of October 13, following the review of 98 corporate fire reports, according to ANTARA News.
What specific financial and logistical measures has President Prabowo Subianto authorized for Tanjung Puting National Park?
President Prabowo authorized Rp 2 billion to drill 200 water wells and quadrupled pump deployments to combat subterranean peat blazes in the park, directing commanders to recruit local communities to assist in establishing the boreholes.
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