Indonesia replaces head of National Disaster Management Agency

China News Service, Jakarta, October 15 (Reporter Li Zhiquan) Indonesian President Prabowo appointed and dismissed a number of government officials on the 15th, including the replacement of the head of the National Disaster Management Agency. This agency is responsible for coordinating disaster prevention and emergency response in Indonesia.

On the same day, Indonesian Army Lieutenant General Cristome Siaturli succeeded Suhayanto as the head of the National Disaster Management Agency. Cristome said he was tasked with controlling forest and land fires as quickly as possible and would recheck the area burned by the fires.

Indonesia is currently facing a severe forest and land fire situation, and the haze issue has become a regional focus, which also makes this personnel adjustment attract much attention from the outside world.

Malaysia had previously offered to provide aircraft to assist Indonesia in fighting fires. Cristome responded by saying that he would sort out the existing response resources of central and local governments and evaluate how to speed up the implementation of foreign assistance.

The personnel changes come amid a corruption investigation into the National Disaster Management Agency. The Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission announced on the 14th that during the investigation of suspected corruption cases in the agency, five people had been listed as suspects and arrested, including Bima Setiawan, the younger brother of the then head Suhayanto. The case involves the use of disaster emergency reserve funds and the procurement of materials and services.