Indonesia expects to bring its forest fires under control within a month, Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat said on October 13, as the government evaluates offers of international firefighting assistance amid ongoing challenges. Speaking at the Prasasti Indonesia Policy Forum in Jakarta, Jumhur cited a decline in fire intensity and projected that the outbreaks would be extinguished in the coming weeks. However, he noted that poor visibility remained a significant obstacle, limiting the use of water-bombing helicopters in affected areas.
The Indonesian government is currently reviewing proposals from neighboring countries before deciding whether to accept external support. Jumhur emphasized the need for careful assessment of the offers’ scale and suitability to avoid errors in response efforts. His comments aligned with those of Coordinating Political and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Abdurachman, who stated following a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto on October 12 that foreign aid offers had not yet been formally discussed.
Regional engagement on the matter has included outreach from Singapore and Malaysia. Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu, confirmed on October 10 that she had communicated with Jumhur and extended support. Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on October 11 that he had offered assistance during a conversation with President Prabowo in September. Malaysia’s National Disaster Management Agency also sent a formal offer to Indonesian counterparts but has yet to receive a definitive response. Zahid remarked that Malaysia assumed Indonesia did not require aid but maintained good faith and willingness to assist.
Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs spokesman Honi Havana on October 14 indicated ongoing discussions with Malaysia regarding operational arrangements, including personnel deployment and logistics, and clarified that no outright rejection of help had occurred.
Within Indonesia, calls to accept foreign assistance have been voiced by political figures such as Regional Representative Council speaker Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin. Sultan described the forest fires as an ecological disaster with serious public health consequences and urged prompt, technologically advanced intervention. While acknowledging government efforts to control the blazes, he supported opening the door to aid from friendly nations, especially ASEAN members, without necessitating a national emergency declaration.
Indonesia had previously received assistance from Japan and Brazil in recent months. Japan provided three CH-47 Chinook helicopters, personnel, and support equipment, concluding its mission on September 29. The Japanese Defense Ministry noted that Indonesian authorities expressed gratitude and affirmed their readiness to manage the fires independently. Brazil supplied fire suppressant powder earlier in the season.
As Indonesia navigates the complex logistics of firefighting and international cooperation, the government maintains a cautious approach in balancing domestic capacity with external support, aiming to extinguish the fires while mitigating environmental and health impacts.