KUBU RAYA, thekabarnews.com—The Kubu Raya administration has canceled a palm oil exhibition scheduled for September 22–23, 2026. This is because the West Kalimantan regency concentrates its resources on a clean-water crisis and forest and land fires (karhutla).

Kubu Raya Regent Sujiwo announced the decision in a video reviewed by The Kabar News. He said the administration had communicated the cancellation to the Directorate General of Estate Crops at the Agriculture Ministry.

The event, listed publicly as the Indonesia Palm Oil Smallholder Conference and Expo 2026, was due to take place at Hotel Q Qubu Resort. It was scheduled in Sungai Raya, Kubu Raya Regency.

“The timing is not right. We are facing a drought disaster and scrambling to extinguish fires, while an exhibition is about to be held,” Sujiwo said.

He acknowledged that the palm oil event could provide benefits. However, he argued that holding a largely ceremonial activity during the current emergency could appear insensitive.

“We must be able to understand the public mood and what people are going through. This decision is also a form of empathy with the current situation,” he said.

Prolonged dry conditions have reduced water availability in parts of Kubu Raya. Additionally, these conditions are increasing the risk of fires, particularly on peatland.

The local government said it had distributed approximately 570,000 liters of water in one week as of September 9.

According to KubuRaya.go.id, the local government distributed nearly 80,000 liters of water on that day alone. The assistance targeted communities struggling to obtain drinking water and water for daily household needs.

“People are having difficulty obtaining drinking water and clean water. Our fire mitigation and response efforts are also still continuing,” Sujiwo said.

The regent said fires in Kubu Raya had become relatively more controlled, although smoke remained thick in some areas.

On September 10, he reported nine hotspots across the regency. There were also active fires still receiving attention in Teluk Bakung and Pasak Piang.

A fire in Sungai Malaya covered an estimated 2.1 hectares before responders brought it largely under control, according to Kuburaya.go.id.

Hotspot detections serve as initial indicators and do not necessarily represent the exact number or size of confirmed fires.

Sujiwo emphasized that the cancellation did not represent a rejection of the palm oil sector or similar exhibitions. Kubu Raya could support another event after environmental conditions and water supplies return to normal.

“I apologize to the director general regarding this cancellation,” he said.

“Once conditions are normal, we can provide our support again because we must also recognize the positive aspects.”

The administration will monitor the cancellation to ensure the event does not proceed as originally scheduled. Sujiwo said public discussion on social media required him to issue a firm decision promptly.

By canceling the exhibition, the Kubu Raya administration intends to keep official attention on water distribution and firefighting. The move also focuses on the communities directly affected by the prolonged dry season.