PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA — President Prabowo Subianto reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to law enforcement and natural resource governance for the benefit of the people. Speaking at the Annual Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the Joint Session of the House of Representatives (DPR) and Regional Representative Council (DPD) on Thursday (August 15, 2025), he highlighted several milestones, including the return of millions of hectares of problematic palm oil plantations to state control.
“In upholding justice, judges must be well-compensated. We have increased some judges’ salaries by up to 280%. We are also not hesitant to uncover major corruption cases,” the President stated in his address, monitored by Palmoilmagazine.com.
Prabowo revealed that the government had received reports of millions of hectares of oil palm plantations operating illegally—whether in protected forests, failing to report planting areas, or ignoring official government summons. To address this, the government enacted Presidential Regulation No. 5 of 2025 on Forest Area Enforcement.
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“Today, I report that the government has reclaimed 3.1 million hectares out of a potential 5 million hectares of problematic oil palm land. From the 3.7 million hectares verified as violating regulations, 3.1 million have already been returned to the state,” he explained.
The President also drew attention to a court ruling that had been final and binding for 18 years, ordering the seizure of palm oil estates, but which had never been enforced. “I don’t know why, but I have ordered these estates to be taken back by the state,” he asserted, adding that the Indonesian military (TNI) had been deployed to secure the process on the ground.
He acknowledged that reclaiming state assets has not always been smooth. “There has often been resistance—even from those daring enough to challenge the government,” Prabowo said.
Following the enforcement in the palm oil sector, the government will now shift its focus to mining. According to official reports, there are 1,063 illegal mines operating in Indonesia. “The potential losses to the state from illegal mining are reported to be at least IDR 300 trillion,” the President noted.
He emphasized that violations in the mining sector will be handled with the same firmness as in the palm oil industry. (P2)
