KUBU RAYA, thekabarnews.com—The Forestry Ministry has suspended the forest-utilization permits of five companies in West Kalimantan and ordered them to restore fire-affected areas. Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni announced this on Thursday, September 3.

Raja Juli announced the administrative action while inspecting a forest and land fire (karhutla) site in Kuala Dua village, Kubu Raya regency, West Kalimantan.

He said President Prabowo Subianto had approved the decision as part of a broader effort to enforce environmental obligations against corporations. These obligations also apply to individuals.

“In accordance with President Prabowo’s instruction, we must enforce the law justly and fairly. It must not be sharp against those below but blunt against those above,” Raja Juli said.

The ministry suspended the five companies’ forest utilization permit (PBPH). A suspension temporarily restricts their licensed operations; it does not necessarily constitute permanent permit revocation.

The five companies hold concessions covering a total of 371,560 hectares in the Ketapang and Sanggau regencies:

PT Mahkota Rimba Utama: 74,480 hectares in Ketapang
PT Hutan Ketapang Industri: 100,150 hectares in Ketapang
PT Mayawana Persada Mas: 136,710 hectares in Ketapang
PT Duta Andalan Sukses: 31,080 hectares in Sanggau
PT Wana Lestari Jaya: 29,140 hectares in Sanggau

Published figures attributed to the Forestry Ministry recorded approximately 2,568.7 hectares of burned land across the five concession areas.

PT Mahkota Rimba Utama recorded the largest affected area at about 1,275.87 hectares. PT Hutan Ketapang Industri followed at 670.76 hectares.

The presence of fire inside a concession does not, by itself, prove that a company started the blaze or committed a criminal offense.

Permit holders have administrative responsibilities to prevent fires, maintain firefighting capacity and respond to outbreaks within their managed areas.

“This afternoon, with President Prabowo’s approval, we are suspending the business permits and issuing mandatory environmental restoration orders,” Raja Juli said.

The restoration orders require the companies to address environmental damage and improve their fire-control systems.

The ministry previously explained that its corporate inspections examine firefighting teams, equipment, water sources and early-detection systems, according to the Forestry Ministry.

Raja Juli said the government could refer the cases for criminal investigation if subsequent examinations uncover indications of an offense.

“If we find indications of a crime, we will take the case into the criminal process. This is not limited to administrative sanctions through permit suspensions and mandatory environmental restoration,” he said.

The minister warned that weak enforcement could encourage both individuals and companies to disregard fire-prevention rules.

“If we do not enforce the law firmly, people will feel free to burn land as they please, whether they are small actors or corporations,” he said.

The suspension and restoration orders constitute administrative measures. Investigators had not publicly established criminal responsibility for the fires when this article was prepared.

The authorities must independently determine how each fire began and whether company conduct meets the legal requirements for further penalties.

The Forestry Ministry did not include detailed responses from the five companies in its public announcement.

Fair enforcement, therefore, will require transparent inspection findings and opportunities for companies to respond. There must be public updates on whether the government maintains or escalates the sanctions.