Newly appointed Minister of Environment, Jumhur Hidayat, has wasted no time in addressing the controversial Job Creation Law (UU Cipta Kerja). Shortly after being sworn in by President Prabowo on Monday, April 27, Jumhur signaled his intent to challenge specific provisions within the regulation that he believes compromise environmental integrity.
Among his primary concerns are the risks of criminalizing indigenous communities that oppose development projects, as well as the dilution of the Environmental Impact Analysis (AMDAL) process. Speaking during his handover ceremony in Jakarta on Wednesday, April 29, Jumhur stated, “We will certainly evaluate several aspects, particularly regarding the extent of public participation in this process and who constitutes the public in these consultations.”
Jumhur, who previously served as the Chairman of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPSI) and head of the National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Workers (BNP2TKI), emphasized that extractive development should no longer come at the cost of the public. He argued that the current model creates unacceptable health and economic risks, often forcibly displacing communities to accommodate industrial projects. “We must flip that perspective, and we are capable of doing so,” he asserted.
Calls for Legislative Reform
This sentiment is echoed by environmental advocacy groups. Uli Arta Siagian, National Campaigner Coordinator for the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), stressed that the new Minister must show the courage to place environmental issues at the core of national development. Uli highlighted that the Job Creation Law effectively weakened the function of AMDAL, stripping it of its protective power.
Uli suggested that as an executive, Jumhur has the authority to initiate a revision of the law and restore the rigor of environmental permitting. “The challenge is: does this ministry have the courage to propose a revision to the environmental cluster of the Job Creation Law?” Uli asked. Specifically, proponents suggest returning to the more stringent standards found in Law Number 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management (UU PPLH). Currently, Walhi is pursuing a constitutional review at the Constitutional Court to reinstate these stronger regulatory protections.
A History of Critical Advocacy
Jumhur’s skepticism regarding the Job Creation Law is not new. In September 2025, while representing the KSPSI before the House of Representatives (DPR RI), he criticized the law, noting that even the President had previously described the regulation as “too capitalistic.” Jumhur expressed hope that his new position would serve as the catalyst to shift the law toward a more equitable framework.
His outspoken nature has previously landed him in legal trouble. In 2020, he was sentenced to 10 months in prison by the South Jakarta District Court for a tweet criticizing the law, which authorities labeled as hate speech and misinformation regarding foreign investment.
Looking ahead, Walhi hopes that Jumhur will champion the passage of a Climate Justice Bill—a proposed piece of legislation aimed at managing climate change—rather than simply folding it into existing revisions of the PPLH Law. Uli warned that the current climate crisis is largely driven by regulators who view environmental rules as mere administrative hurdles rather than critical mitigation tools. As the new Minister, Jumhur is now expected to act as a guardian of the environment, ensuring that sustainability becomes a fundamental pillar in Indonesia’s future development.