REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The government has held discussions on precautionary measures against land and forest fires following the onset of the dry season in 2018. Hotspots have emerged in some areas.

"We are experiencing the dry season now. I have received information from regions on the emergence of hotspots, and that they have been overcome soon," Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko stated here on Wednesday.

Moeldoko remarked that efforts to overcome land and forest fires will involve some related institutions, including the Meteorological, Geophysical, and Climatology Agency; National Disaster Management Agency; Peat Restoration Agency; Transportation Ministry; the military; and police.

Also read: Asian Games must remain unaffected by forest fires: Jokowi

Moeldoko has summoned some governors from forest fire-prone areas, such as South Sumatra, Riau, West Kalimantan, Aceh, and North Sumatra, and called on the police to conduct thorough investigation into land and forest fires.

"Certainly, the police will take legal measures. So far, no one have been arrested," he added.

Moeldoko stressed that the government will take stern measures against individuals or institutions that have started fires.

The measures are also aimed at supporting the smooth implementation of the Asian Games 2018 in South Sumatra's city of Palembang and Jakarta as well as the IMF-World Bank annual meeting in Bali.

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