Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Indonesia’s Environment Ministry and the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) have joined forces to promote “ecological repentance,” a movement aimed at addressing the country’s environmental crisis through moral responsibility, stronger government oversight and ecosystem restoration.
The initiative was discussed at a meeting in Jakarta on October 23, 2026, with the ministry announcing the joint effort on October 25. The movement draws on MUI’s religious guidance that environmental destruction is prohibited under Islamic law.
Environment Minister and Head of the Environmental Control Agency Moh Jumhur Hidayat said environmental protection required more than formal regulations and enforcement. He stressed the need to build public awareness and encourage people to view environmental stewardship as a moral and religious responsibility.
The initiative outlines three stages of ecological repentance: acknowledging harm to nature, committing to prevent further damage and taking concrete action to restore degraded ecosystems.
At the individual and family level, the ministry is encouraging people to adopt more sustainable daily habits, including switching off unused air conditioners and lights, avoiding littering and reducing excessive fossil fuel consumption.
The government is also expected to strengthen environmental regulations and supervision. Jumhur said authorities must acknowledge past shortcomings and improve oversight to prevent further environmental damage.
For businesses that profit from natural resources, the ministry emphasized the need for concrete restoration measures and appropriate funding. Companies that fail to comply with environmental obligations could face escalating enforcement, including warnings, compulsory measures and civil or criminal legal action, according to the ministry.
The initiative also addresses recurring forest and land fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Jumhur said the government would support communities and farmers in adopting alternatives to land clearing by burning, including providing access to shredding equipment and land-processing machinery that does not require fire.
He said the approach was intended to combine enforcement with practical assistance, particularly for small-scale farmers, in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s direction to avoid regulations that unnecessarily burden vulnerable communities.
MUI Secretary-General Amirsyah Tambunan expressed support for the initiative and called for accountability from businesses responsible for environmental damage. He urged individuals, families, communities and companies to take responsibility for protecting nature.
Amirsyah also reiterated MUI’s position that damaging the environment, particularly through land burning, is religiously prohibited.
The partnership is intended to complement government policy and enforcement with public and religious engagement, with the aim of strengthening environmental protection and restoring damaged ecosystems across Indonesia. (*)
