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IndonesiaThe latest on News from our Indonesia desk.
Malaysia Weighs Legal Action Over Indonesia Wildfire Haze
Malaysian lawmakers are urging a permanent ASEAN wildfire task force and raising the prospect of compensation claims over smoke drifting from Indonesia. The dispute highlights the cross-border health and economic costs of recurring haze, while Indonesian officials say the foreign minister will handle the formal response through ASEAN diplomacy. A Malaysian lawmaker cited 300,000 hectares affected in Indonesia, a figure not independently verified in the report.
Indonesia’s New Army Chief Sets Priorities for Prabowo Programs
Gen. Tandyo Budi Revita took over as Indonesia’s army chief at a ceremony led by President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta on Oct. 15, 2026. Tandyo said the army would accelerate government programs involving the force, assist with forest and peatland fires, and support priorities on security and public welfare in Papua. He did not provide details on deployment plans or timelines.
KPK Names Five Suspects in BNPB Procurement Case
Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission named five suspects in an alleged procurement corruption case involving the National Disaster Mitigation Agency. One is the agency chief’s younger brother. The investigation concerns ready-to-use emergency funds, as forest and peatland fires spread haze across parts of Southeast Asia. President Prabowo Subianto replaced BNPB chief Suharyanto on Oct 15, a day after his brother’s arrest.
West Kalimantan Haze Case Accuses Prabowo of Negligence
A class-action case over the haze and wildfires in Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province has opened in court, naming President Prabowo Subianto and other officials as defendants. The plaintiffs accuse the government of negligence and seek a national emergency declaration, free health services and compensation. The first hearing was adjourned after the defendants did not attend.
Indonesian Influencer Seeks Rainmaker Amid Kalimantan Fires
Indonesian influencer Riyuka Bunga drew attention to fires in Kalimantan with a social media post asking followers to find Rara, a performer known as a rainmaker. The appeal prompted jokes, account tags and pleas for rain. Behind the online response, the fires remain a serious concern: smoke can affect residents’ health and daily activities, while rainfall alone cannot replace firefighting and prevention efforts.
Indonesia Wildfires Send Smog Across Southeast Asia
Wildfires in Indonesia have sent hazardous smog across Southeast Asia, obscuring Singapore’s skyline and prompting school closures in Malaysia. The fires have burned 900,000 hectares, according to forest monitoring platform Nusantara Atlas. President Prabowo Subianto has called for tougher sanctions, while authorities say they suspended the operating licences of 26 companies linked to the blazes.
Rupiah Hits Record Low as Dollar Breaks 18,000 Threshold
The rupiah weakened to 18,028 per US dollar on Thursday, breaking the psychological 18,000 threshold. Rising energy costs are pressuring Indonesia’s currency and narrowing its trade surplus, while Bank Indonesia says it continues to use available policy instruments and dollar purchases above $25,000 a month now require supporting documents.
Kalimantan-Sumatra Fires Keep Air Pollution at Dangerous Levels
Wildfires continue to affect parts of Kalimantan and Sumatra, with air pollution reported at dangerous levels in several locations. A Katadata report on Oct. 11, 2026, said smoke from the fires still blanketed Palangka Raya in Central Kalimantan. The report did not provide air-quality readings, the number of affected locations, the burned area or details of the response, leaving conditions across individual communities unclear.
Awkarin, Aa Juju clash over Kalimantan fire appeal
A social media appeal asking Indonesian influencer Awkarin to share information about fires in Kalimantan turned into a public dispute over tone and criticism. Aa Juju said he hoped her larger following could help the information reach more people and pointed to her past campaigning. Awkarin objected to the wording, denied ignoring issues in Indonesia and posted their exchange. The available account does not include a later response from Aa Juju.
Indonesia Stocks Slide as Wildfires Disrupt 1,673 Flights
Indonesia’s benchmark stock index fell 1.94% to 5,975.78 in Monday’s first trading session as the rupiah also weakened. Separately, wildfires disrupted 1,673 scheduled domestic flights between Aug. 11 and Oct. 9, with limited visibility prompting cancellations, delays, diversions and returns to origin. The Transportation Ministry said airlines must provide affected passengers with compensation, rebooking or a full ticket refund under applicable regulations.
Indonesia Steps Up Influenza Monitoring as Cases Rise in Regions
Health authorities in Aceh, Bali and Medan are expanding influenza monitoring as cases rise. Officials say conditions remain manageable, but have urged people with symptoms to take precautions. Surveillance data also show influenza A was the dominant strain in recent tests, while health agencies are tracking infections and strengthening preparedness.
Eight Orangutans Rescued From Indonesian Fires Released in Borneo Reserve
Eight orangutans rescued after wildfires threatened their habitats have been released into a reserve in western Borneo. The site offers food and water and connects to other forested areas, according to rescuers. Indonesian authorities rescued 46 orangutans from fires in August and September, while conservation groups warn that fire and habitat loss continue to threaten the endangered apes.
Indonesia looks mosque loudspeakers for quake alerts
Researchers are testing whether mosque loudspeakers can carry earthquake warnings to hard-to-reach communities in Indonesia. The five-year trial has connected several mosques to a seismic sensor network, but the system remains a prototype and does not yet issue public alerts. The research team is also examining school loudspeakers, radio and television as possible ways to reach people quickly.
Padang Flash Flooding Damages Homes, Disrupts Roads
A flash flood hit Padang, West Sumatra, on Saturday, inundating homes and damaging infrastructure in Lubuk Minturun. Flooding also affected parts of Kuranji and Koto Tangah, disrupted transport and prompted evacuations, while residents and emergency crews began recovery. On Sunday, a PLN foundation delivered meals and hot drinks. Authorities had not released official figures for damaged homes or casualties in the reports available.
Indonesia Fires Push Singapore to World’s Most Polluted City
Smoke from Indonesian land and forest fires pushed Singapore to the top of IQAir’s global pollution ranking on Oct. 7, while nearly 200 schools and child-care centers in Malaysia’s Batu Pahat closed after air pollution reached a very unhealthy level. Singapore’s environment agency reported unhealthy conditions across all five regions and warned that dry weather could keep fire and haze risks elevated.
Jambi Plans Firefighting Gear for 14 Community Fire Groups
Jambi’s forestry agency plans to use part of a presidential grant for firefighting pumps, hoses and patrol motorcycles for forest management units and community fire groups. Pumps are earmarked for 14 groups in fire-prone areas, but the equipment cannot be distributed until the provincial budget amendment process is complete. The province received 30 billion rupiah from a total 85 billion rupiah in fire-response aid for Jambi.
Padang Flash Floods: Police Evacuate About 330 Residents
Indonesia’s West Sumatra Mobile Brigade deployed 300 officers to three flood-hit areas in Padang. By Sunday, teams had evacuated about 300 people from Lumin Park housing and 30 from Guo Kuranji, while officers remained on standby and urged residents to heed safety instructions and watch for further flooding.
Wildfires threaten Indonesia’s orangutans as rescues grow
Wildfires in parts of Borneo and Sumatra have injured and displaced orangutans, while one rescued male died hours later. Rescuers treated a young female with burns, and officials say more than 270 wild animals in Kalimantan had been rescued, rehabilitated or guided to safer habitats as of Saturday. Satellite monitoring estimated nearly 896,000 hectares had burned by the end of August.
Anak Krakatau Eruption Disrupts 300,000 Air Passengers
Indonesia’s transportation minister says an Anak Krakatau eruption that disrupted about 300,000 air passengers exposed the need for stronger emergency coordination. Volcanic ash prompted temporary airport closures, including at Soekarno-Hatta, where about 30,000 passengers were affected. The government says airlines, airport operators and aviation authorities worked together to assist travelers and restore operations while prioritizing safety.
AI Uncovers Forgotten Meteorite Reports in Millions of Archive Pages
A software engineer used AI to search millions of digitized historical pages, surfacing a forgotten meteorite report, records of three long-documented-missing rhinos and clues to an unrecorded volcanic eruption. The system narrowed the search, but each promising lead still had to be checked against scans of original documents—a safeguard against transcription errors and confident but incorrect AI answers.
USD to IDR: Yahoo Finance Page Shows No Rupiah Rate
Yahoo Finance’s currency-converter page does not show a USD to IDR exchange rate in available reports. Instead, it lists market headlines, including a Barchart report on support for the dollar from higher Treasury yields. The page gives no rupiah quote, daily change or update time, so it cannot establish how many rupiah a dollar would buy.
Fires Indonesia Burning Months as Smoke Threatens Millions
Fires have burned for months across parts of Indonesia’s Borneo and Sumatra, sending hazardous smoke into communities and across borders. NASA data describes how drought and fires on peatland can keep flames smoldering underground, while Indonesian monitoring counted 946 hotspots on August 31. The Guardian reported rising respiratory illness cases and hazardous air in parts of Kalimantan.
Bechi Teacher Sexually Abused Student, Returned to Jail
Mochamad Subchi Azal Tsani, known as Bechi, has been returned to prison in Indonesia after a government review found errors in his parole. The BBC investigation into his early release prompted public outcry and calls for scrutiny. The minister responsible said those who approved the parole would face sanctions.
Magnitude 5.0 Lombok Earthquake Felt Across Bali, No Tsunami Risk
A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck off West Lombok early Wednesday, waking residents in Mataram and sending light shaking as far as Bali. Indonesia’s meteorological agency said the quake posed no tsunami threat. No damage or casualties had been reported in the initial update, while one magnitude 1.3 aftershock was recorded. Officials urged residents to check buildings for major cracks and follow updates from official channels.