Prabowo appoints Kristomei Sianturi as new BNPB chief

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto appointed Lieutenant-General Kristomei Sianturi as the new head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency on Oct 15.

Kristomei Sianturi Takes Over National Disaster Mitigation Agency

Kristomei Sianturi replaced Suharyanto at the head of the disaster mitigation agency, known locally as BNPB. The new chief previously served as commander of the Radin Inten Regional Military Command. Upon his inauguration at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta, Kristomei stated that disaster handling must accelerate. VOI.id reported that he wants officer response times measured in minutes rather than hours.

Responsive is not measured in hours, minutes.

The appointment comes during an active haze crisis. Indonesia is currently battling extensive land and forest fires across Kalimantan and Sumatra. The Straits Times noted that the resulting smoke haze has spread to neighboring Singapore and Malaysia. Around 70,000 personnel from BNPB, the military, and the police have deployed to contain the blazes.

Corruption Arrests Target Emergency Relief Procurement

The leadership shift occurred a day after Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission detained five suspects over alleged procurement irregularities involving disaster preparedness funds. One of the detained suspects is Bima Setyawan, the younger brother of outgoing BNPB chief Suharyanto. Bima served as an expert staff member to his brother.

Broader Government Restructuring Under Prabowo Subianto

The October 15 overhaul extends far beyond the disaster mitigation agency. President Prabowo also appointed new deputy ministers for defense, agriculture, and immigration. The president also inaugurated Tandyo Budi Revita as the new army chief-of-staff, who is the de facto army chief. He replaced Maruli Simanjuntak, who becomes deputy chief of the Indonesian military. Maruli is also head of the national agency for border and remote area management, a new role.

This restructuring follows a series of high-level government changes. An October 1 reshuffle introduced new foreign and industry ministers alongside eight other senior agency and police leaders. Earlier, on September 14, Prabowo dismissed former finance minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, appointing his deputy Suahasil Nazara as the replacement. These shifts mark the eighth cabinet and agency reshuffle since Prabowo took office on October 20, 2024.

What Remains Unknown in the Investigation

Lawmakers have demanded heightened financial scrutiny following the arrests. Indonesian MP Abdullah called for a comprehensive State Audit Board review of BNPB finances, while MP Abdul Wachid expressed public dismay over corruption during a national disaster. Despite the political fallout and leadership transition, officials maintain that public services and ongoing disaster response operations continue.