Prabowo Claims the State Will Take Over 5 Million Hectare of Problematic Palm Oil and Close Hundreds of Illegal Mines

BANGKALAN - President Prabowo Subianto said the government had taken back more than 5 million hectares of oil palm plantations that were said to be illegal.

Prabowo made the statement when closing the 2026 Alim Ulama and Konbes NU Congress in Bangkalan, Madura, Tuesday, June 23.

According to Prabowo, the gardens are problematic because they do not comply with regulations, are in protected forest areas, or are related to falsified reports.

"We have recaptured, recaptured more than 5 million hectares of illegal oil palm plantations," said Prabowo.

He also said the government had closed hundreds of unlicensed mines. Prabowo assessed that illegal mining practices had been going on as if there was no country.

He gave an example of a mine that operated for eight years without a permit. There is also a mine that produces hundreds of billions of rupiah every month from gold, silver, and high-value metals.

Prabowo admitted that eradicating smuggling and illegal mining was not easy. The government has deployed the Navy, Customs, and thousands of soldiers, but smuggling practices still occur.

"Our country is very rich. Therefore, the government must be clean and not corrupt," he said.