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Advik Sunanda Mohan
22 October 2026 |
In the news
On 13 October, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced the mobilization of additional resources across the country for firefighters to combat the wildfires.
On 14 October, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong demanded strong and coordinated action from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc to combat the wildfires.
On 15 October, East Timor announced the closure of all schools for three days, owing to the escalating air pollution and haze from Indonesia.
On 16 October, Singapore reported its 12th consecutive day of unhealthy readings on the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI), with air quality above 101. On 19 October, Prabowo appointed Lieutenant General Kristomei Sianturi as the new head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) in Indonesia amidst outrage over growing wildfires. On the same day, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi informed that Malaysia had offered a Bombardier aircraft, three helicopters, and 50 personnel to help Indonesia combat the wildfires. He further informed the request was awaiting official approval from Jakarta.
On 20 October, thousands of Indonesian students protested against the government’s handling of the wildfires.
Issues at large
1. The recurring nature of wildfires in Indonesia
The islands of Borneo and Sumatra have been particularly vulnerable to wildfires for years. This is also owing to the peatland vegetation prevalent here being drained. This type of vegetation has traditionally been more resistant to wildfires due to being waterlogged. However, the constant draining of these peatlands has resulted in water drying out and the likelihood of fires increasing. The rich vegetation prevalent in Indonesia has been particularly affected by this, with large swathes of the biodiversity devastated from the wildfires, which have burnt over 900,000 hectares of land so far. The wildfires are also seasonal, traditionally occurring in the July to October period of the dry season with low rainfall.
2. The cascading effects of El Nino
The phenomenon has escalated this year due to a surge in ocean temperatures and global warming. El Nino has disrupted traditional rainfall patterns in Indonesia. Data from the Indonesian Bureau of Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics showed that cumulative rainfall across the central and southern provinces decreased by 65 per cent below the 30-year historical average. The commencement of the monsoon season was also delayed to November, a month after its traditional start. The rainfall deficit has escalated droughts and caused the rich agricultural land to dry out. This has aggravated the impact of the wildfires.
3. The flawed response of Indonesia
The Indonesian government has faced criticism over its slow response to the wildfires. The government did not declare the wildfires as a national disaster until after about a month, which meant that it could not utilize emergency reserve funds maintained for times of emergency. Additionally, a national disaster declaration would have provided the Indonesian government with the authority to handle the wildfires directly. This contrasts with the current response, which has been criticized as being more fragmented in nature with the confusion in responsibilities between the national and regional governments. The Indonesian government also refused to take foreign aid, despite offers from Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan. These countries possess specialized methods of combating wildfires that Indonesia lacks, such as the advanced cloud seeding technology of Singapore or the specialized aircraft for water-bombing Malaysia has.
4. The regional spillover across the ASEAN
Indonesia’s neighbours have been dealing with high air pollution and haze as a result of the wildfires. Malaysia, Singapore, and East Timor have all reported high levels of pollution, alongside respiratory illnesses. The haze from the Indonesian wildfires has been blamed for worsening air quality in these countries. These have forced the countries to undertake drastic measures, such as large-scale distribution of masks and closure of schools. Prabowo has struck a defiant note, criticizing countries that “insult us.” However, the wildfires and resulting haze have turned into a cross-country issue, with Jakarta facing mounting pressure over its response.
In perspective
First, the escalating climate crisis. The current wildfires are expected to last until mid-November. Additionally, with growing climate change, the problem is expected to persist in the coming years. The crisis this year has reflected several organizational gaps and equipment deficiencies prevalent within the Indonesian governmental structure vis-à-vis combating climate disasters like wildfires. However, Indonesia is expected to remain at the forefront of the climate crisis in Southeast Asia in the coming years.
Second, the domestic pressure on the Indonesian government. Two years into his presidency, Prabowo has faced increasing criticism on various issues. The government has been dogged by several corruption scandals, such as in the mid-day meal programme which caused food poisoning incidents in children, and in the disaster relief fund. Additionally, there has been discontent over the growing military involvement in civilian government posts, and the rising cost of living. The problems with the handling of the wildfires have only added to criticism. The recent protests sparked by the environmental inaction could escalate into a broader movement against the government.
Third, the regional response. These wildfires are expected to dominate the agenda at the ASEAN summit to be held next month in the Philippines. There is likely to be a greater push towards ensuring greater enforcement mechanisms for the bloc towards climate events such as transboundary haze and smoke, which it lacks at present.
