Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – The Indonesian government will revoke the permits of 20 companies accused of causing large-scale environmental damage linked to catastrophic floods and landslides in Sumatra, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said on Thursday.
Deadly flash floods and landslides have struck the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra over the past two weeks, killing more than 800 people and severely damaging public infrastructure.
Raja Juli said the permit cancellations are part of the government's disaster-mitigation response in the affected provinces.
"There are around 20 companies covering an area of roughly 750,000 hectares whose permits I will revoke," he told reporters at the parliament complex in Jakarta, without naming the firms involved.
He added that leaders of 12 additional companies suspected of contributing to the disasters will be summoned for questioning.
"Our law-enforcement teams are already on the ground, and I believe there will be firm action in the coming days," Raja Juli said.
The minister also signaled he would accept removal from office if President Prabowo Subianto considered him unable to protect forests in Sumatra, which many experts say have been degraded by land exploitation.
"That is the President's prerogative, and I am ready to be evaluated," he said, adding that he welcomes public criticism. "My responsibility is simply to work as hard as I can."