Pratikno Denies Illness and Resignation Rumors, Tackles Bromo Fire
He said he was in Bromo since morning; of 36 fire points, two remain and water bombing continues.
Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno denied reports that he was ill and would resign from the Red and White Cabinet. When reached by reporters, he said he was on duty in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park area in East Java to speed up the response to forest and land fires.
Pratikno said he left for Malang in the morning and then continued on to Bromo for a coordination meeting on firefighting. He said the fires had appeared at 36 points and only two hotspots remained, so BNPB water bombing support was being maintained. He also said weather modification operations could not yet be carried out because there were no clouds, and that it was expected to be possible in four days.
In Jakarta, State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi also denied rumors that Pratikno was ill or planning to resign.