Silvy Riana Putri, Jakarta – The haze caused by land and forest fires in Kalimantan has been ongoing for the last four months and has escalated into a global issue. This ecological disaster has captured international attention.
Waves of concern, protests, and demands continue to mount from various parts of the world, including Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio, climate activist Greta Thunberg, as well as members of parliament and influencers from neighboring Malaysia.
Figures speak out on haze
Here is a recap of several voices from global public figures regarding the Kalimantan forest fires:
1. Leonardo DiCaprio
Hollywood actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio has expressed deep concern regarding the forest and land fire disaster in Kalimantan. Through a reel posted on his personal Instagram on Saturday, October 3, 2026, DiCaprio used the word 'urgent' to describe the gravity of the situation on the ground.
He highlighted that more than 800,000 hectares of forest, an area equivalent to ten times the size of New York City, have burned, threatening the safety of more than half the population of Kalimantan's orangutans and white-bearded gibbons, who are increasingly losing their habitat.
The posted video, sourced from the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation, shows scorched forest tracks and thick smoke enveloping wildlife. The Titanic star shared a moment when an orangutan was successfully rescued by the Central Kalimantan Conservation Agency alongside the BOS Foundation for medical treatment.
Furthermore, he warned that the climate crisis is causing carbon-rich peatlands to become drier and more susceptible to burning due to land clearing, resulting in severe health hazards for more than 5 million people exposed to toxic smoke.
In closing, DiCaprio appreciated the collaboration of various parties continuing to fight on the front lines, from the Indonesian government, firefighters, and local communities to international conservation organizations such as Re:wild, the IUCN Great Apes Specialist Group, and the IUCN Gibbon Specialist Group.
2. Greta Thunberg
Meanwhile, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg reposted several updates from Kalimantan environmental activist Emmanuela Shinta. From observations compiled by Cantika, this marked the first time Greta reposted Emmanuela's post on October 14, 2026, followed by a subsequent repost on October 20, 2026. In the post, Emmanuela wrote "OUR VOICE MUST NOT BE SILENCED" in English.
She presented updated data detailing the severity of the forest fires. "306,309 people were treated in hospitals for Acute Respiratory Infections. Among them, 75,000 are children under 5 years old," she wrote.
"2 million acres of the forests destroyed in fires. Animals burned alive. People are dying and suffocating. Villagers lost their forests and rubber trees. Firefighters died. 306,309 people are hospitalised because of Acute Respiratory Infection. Among them, 75,000 are children under 5 years. This situation has been lasting for 4 months," she continued.
"Our social media accounts sharing information about the fires in Indonesia are now being shadowbanned. Protests are taking place across the country, but censorship is silencing our voices. PLEASE SHARE THIS with your friends, family, colleagues, and anyone who might be willing to help. We need to make sure the world knows what is happening in Indonesia. Our voice must not be silenced!" Emmanuela stated.
3. Malaysian MP Kalam Salan
Malaysian MP Kalam Salan openly directed a message to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. Interestingly, Kalam chose to convey part of his statement using refined Javanese to ensure his message carried across without language barriers.
As reported by the New Straits Times, Kalam emphasized that the adverse effects of the forest fires are not only tormenting local residents but have also begun to disrupt the health and daily activities of citizens in Malaysia.
Before switching to Javanese, he explicitly requested that the Indonesian government under President Prabowo's leadership take concrete action on the ground to extinguish the hotspots triggering transboundary smoke.
"To the respected Pak Prabowo, please take urgent action to put out the fires and ensure that this (haze) problem does not recur every year," Kalam who is also of Javanese descent stated, as reported by Bernama.
Kalam expressed hope that citizens of both friendly nations could once again enjoy clear skies and breathe fresh air. His diplomatic approach continued as he sought formal permission from the session chair to alter his language mid-speech.
"So, allow me, with permission of the honourable House, to speak in Javanese," he said before council members.
The rationale was to ensure his message resonated clearly with decision-makers in Indonesia. Without hesitation, he reiterated his core point in Javanese, urging an immediate halt to forest burning and demanding that fire management be prioritized.
"'Kulo matur suwun, bapak presiden' (I thank you, Mr. president)," he said, ending his reminder by adding, "hopefully they understand."
4. Joseph Lee
Content creator Joseph Lee from Malaysia caught public attention through a unique protest addressed directly to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
In a viral video across social media, Joseph appeared wearing a medical oxygen mask set against a city backdrop blanketed in thick haze.
Holding a sign reading "Wo Bu Neng Hu Xi Ke Yi Jiu Jiu Wo Ma Prabo Gor Gor" (I can't breathe, can you save me Brother Prabowo?), Joseph voiced his frustration.
In an Instagram video on October 9, 2026, Joseph shared that his health had deteriorated due to smoke exposure. "I can't take it anymore. I'm suffering. I woke up today with a fever. I'm sick. I have a sore throat and cough. Mucus keeps flowing out from my nose. It's also hard to breathe. Please, I don't want to suffer anymore," Joseph said while holding a medical oxygen tank.
He implored that the haze crisis be resolved within a month. Poor air quality has forced him and many others to postpone outdoor plans, ranging from dates, running clubs, and picnics to attending an upcoming concert by The Weeknd.
A few days later, on October 12, 2026, he responded to a video clip of Indonesian officials stating that Indonesia not only exports haze but also supplies oxygen to Malaysia and Singapore from Kalimantan's forests when fires are absent.
Pointing to an image of the Kalimantan rainforest on his laptop, Joseph delivered his response. "First, I want to say thank you for giving us oxygen. But we don't just need your oxygen; we also need you to get rid of this haze. We're struggling, we can't take it anymore. It's very hard to breathe, please," Joseph stated.
He emphasized that the Malaysian public does not intend to blame Indonesian citizens for the crisis.
The growing calls and scrutiny from the international community show that the impact of the Kalimantan forest fires has expanded into a global ecological crisis requiring concrete measures and cross-border cooperation to protect human lives and preserve ecosystems.
This focus from global figures is expected to strengthen intergovernmental coordination to extinguish active hotspots, safeguard endangered species from extinction, and protect the health of millions of affected residents.
– Instagram, Mifta Khairunnisa
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2122365/global-figures-speak-out-on-haze-dicaprio-greta-thunberg-include