Jakarta. A deadly series of floods and landslides in Sumatra has triggered rare public friction within Indonesia’s cabinet, after a senior minister appeared to blame colleagues for failing to prevent environmental degradation linked to the disaster.

The disaster has killed hundreds over the past two weeks, prompting Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar to call on three fellow ministers to “repent” as a reflection of responsibility. His remarks pointed indirectly to Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni, Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, and Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq.

Environmental experts have cited a mix of heavy rainfall intensified by climate change, uncontrolled mining, and forest encroachment as key contributors to the scale of the disaster across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

In a video posted on social media, Muhaimin said he had formally written to the three ministries, urging a “total evaluation of all policies” to prevent future climate-related catastrophes.

Speaking before lawmakers on Thursday, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni rejected the notion that deforestation triggered the floods and landslides. He argued that extreme weather combined with declining river capacity were the primary factors behind the disaster.

“Floods and landslides, particularly in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, occurred due to a combination of several interconnected factors,” he told parliament.

Raja Juli cited ministry data suggesting that deforestation in the affected provinces had decreased compared with the previous year:

• Aceh: from 11,228 hectares in 2024 to 10,100 hectares in 2025
• North Sumatra: from 7,141 hectares to 6,142 hectares
• West Sumatra: from 6,634 hectares to 5,705 hectares

Despite claiming a decline in forest loss, the minister acknowledged public concern after a viral video showed logs carried away by floodwaters. He confirmed that officials are investigating potential illegal logging operations.

“A forestry law enforcement team is investigating entities suspected of contributing to the disaster,” he said.

Raja Juli also revealed that Muhaimin had privately apologized for his remarks, insisting there was no intention to target him for formal policy review.

“He sincerely apologized, and I accepted it. He said he never meant to blame me,” Raja Juli said.

The minister stressed that cabinet members must avoid public accusations that could damage working relationships or appear to undermine President Prabowo Subianto’s administration.

“We are all working under President Prabowo. It is important not to make statements that disrupt stability,” he said.

Although the dispute appears politically defused, Raja Juli urged ministers to be cautious when addressing sensitive issues such as natural disasters, energy policy, and environmental protection, warning that public miscommunication could hinder collaborative responses.

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