Indonesia appoints army general to lead disaster agency amid corruption probe and forest fires

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has appointed army general Kristomei Sianturi as the new head of the country’s disaster management agency, replacing Suharyanto as the government continues to battle forest and land fires and investigate alleged corruption involving disaster preparedness funds.

The appointment was announced on Thursday, 15 October, during Prabowo’s latest reshuffle of cabinet members and senior officials.

Kristomei, previously commander of the Radin Inten Regional Military Command in Lampung, will lead the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), which coordinates disaster response across the country.

The leadership change comes two days after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a sting operation at BNPB and one day after it named five suspects in an alleged corruption case involving the procurement of goods and services financed through disaster emergency funds.

One of the suspects, Bima Setyawan, is the younger brother of Suharyanto and served as an expert staff member at BNPB. The KPK has said it is investigating alleged irregularities in the allocation and use of emergency funds.

The timing of Suharyanto’s replacement has drawn attention because of the investigation, although the government has not publicly established that the appointment was made as a direct consequence of the case. Suharyanto has not been named as a suspect in the investigation.

Kristomei takes over as BNPB chief

Kristomei was most recently commander of the Radin Inten Regional Military Command, a position he had held since August 2025.

Before his appointment was confirmed, Kristomei told journalists at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday that he had been summoned by the president but did not yet know what assignment he would receive.

“I have been asked to attend by the President,” he said, according to Indonesia’s state news agency ANTARA.

Asked about the possibility of leading BNPB, he said he was ready to carry out the president’s instructions.

“As a soldier, I am ready to follow orders,” he said.

Kristomei’s appointment places an army general at the head of an agency responsible for coordinating emergency responses to disasters, including floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and forest fires.

BNPB works with ministries, regional governments, the military, police and other organisations to coordinate emergency operations and support affected communities.

Appointment follows KPK investigation

The change in leadership comes amid an investigation into alleged corruption involving BNPB’s disaster emergency funds, known as Dana Siap Pakai.

The KPK arrested 14 people during an operation at BNPB on 13 October. On 14 October, it named five people as suspects and detained them.

They include Bima Setyawan; Gabriel Purwaka Sigit, a BNPB official responsible for assistance and emergency management who also serves as a commitment-making official; Richard Erlangga, an expert staff member; and two private-sector individuals, Gery Prasetiawan and Syifa Nrika Ghifarian.

KPK chairman Setyo Budiyanto said investigators were examining suspected irregularities in the procurement of goods and services financed through emergency funds.

The commission suspects that some individuals coordinated the allocation and use of budgets in ways that enabled them to obtain personal benefits. Investigators are also examining alleged conflicts of interest and bribery.

Setyo confirmed Bima’s relationship with Suharyanto but said the investigation was based on the alleged conduct of individuals, regardless of their personal backgrounds.

The KPK has not publicly established Suharyanto’s involvement in the alleged offences. His replacement as BNPB chief should therefore be distinguished from the criminal investigation, which concerns the five named suspects.

Forest fires add to BNPB’s responsibilities

The appointment comes as Indonesia continues to fight forest and land fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, which have contributed to haze affecting communities in Indonesia and neighbouring countries.

The fires have prompted firefighting operations involving ground personnel and aircraft, while thick smoke and poor visibility have complicated efforts in some areas.

BNPB is among the agencies involved in coordinating disaster response, including the mobilisation of personnel and resources. Its leadership is also responsible for ensuring that emergency operations and disaster-related expenditure are managed in accordance with applicable rules.

The agency’s emergency-ready funds are intended to meet urgent needs associated with disaster response. Procurement financed through these funds can include supplies, equipment and services required during emergencies.

The current KPK investigation has not publicly identified a particular forest fire or disaster as the focus of the suspected misuse. The commission has said it is examining procurement and the use of emergency funds, with further details expected as the investigation proceeds.

Further changes in Prabowo’s administration

Prabowo also appointed new officials to several other senior positions on Thursday, including deputy ministers responsible for defence, agriculture and immigration, as well as Satyawan Pudyatmoko as head of the national peatland and mangrove management agency.

Satyawan previously served as director-general of natural resources and ecosystem conservation at the Ministry of Forestry.

The reshuffle follows changes announced on 1 October, when Prabowo appointed new officials to several senior government positions, including the foreign and industry ministerial portfolios and a number of agency leadership posts.

On 14 September, Prabowo replaced Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa with his deputy, Suahasil Nazara.

The latest appointments represent another round of changes in the administration since Prabowo took office on 20 October 2024.

Public scrutiny over the timing

The replacement of Suharyanto has attracted attention because it followed the KPK operation at BNPB and the identification of his younger brother as one of the suspects.

Reports about Kristomei’s arrival at the Presidential Palace on Thursday circulated while speculation about a leadership change was already spreading. Some online comments questioned the frequency of Prabowo’s reshuffles, while others linked the reported BNPB change to the corruption investigation.

However, public reporting has not established that the president removed Suharyanto because of his brother’s alleged involvement. The government has not publicly stated that the appointment was a disciplinary measure or that Suharyanto was implicated in the case.

The KPK investigation and the leadership change remain separate developments unless further official information establishes a direct connection.

Kristomei now takes over an agency facing two major demands: coordinating Indonesia’s response to ongoing disasters, including forest fires, and maintaining public confidence in the administration of funds intended for emergency relief.