Indonesia arrests 72 over forest fires as haze spreads to Malaysia
INDONESIAN police have arrested 72 people suspected of involvement in forest and peat fires that have blanketed parts of the country in thick smoke, with the haze spreading across the border into Malaysia. The suspects are being investigated in conne...
Indonesian authorities have apprehended 72 individuals suspected of involvement in 89 forest and land fire cases, as smoke from the fires in Borneo and Sumatra drifted into Malaysia. The suspects are under investigation for 89 forest and land fire cases across five provinces on Borneo and four provinces on Sumatra. Mohammad Irhamni, director of the special crimes department at the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency, stated that most of the arrested individuals were accused of deliberately setting fires to clear land for plantations at a lower cost.
Investigators are also examining financial records to determine if companies financed or ordered the land clearing. Those found guilty could face significant fines or up to 15 years in prison. Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency noted that the fires had worsened due to the onset of the El Niño phenomenon and a prolonged dry season.
President Prabowo Subianto visited Central Kalimantan, where fires affected over 7,600 hectares, and promised additional resources to combat the blazes. The government is deploying helicopters and water pumps to aid firefighting efforts. State Secretariat head Prasetyo Hadi revealed that at least four companies in West Kalimantan are under investigation for alleged involvement in land clearing through fire use.
If proven guilty, their operating permits may be revoked. Indonesia's Environment Ministry recorded more than 3,700 hotspots across Borneo and over 1,700 in South Sumatra as authorities intensified their efforts to control the fires. Visibility in parts of Sumatra dropped to as low as 10 meters due to dense smoke. Authorities have also resumed cloud-seeding operations over Kalimantan, and 30 helicopters are being utilized for water-bombing and aerial surveillance, while another 22 helicopters are operating over Sumatra.
The smoke has extended into Malaysia, with Sarawak among the states most impacted by the worsening haze. One district recorded "very unhealthy" air quality, while many others reported unhealthy readings. Authorities closed nearly 600 schools in Sarawak, affecting around 200,000 students. The latest fires have reignited concerns over the annual transboundary haze issue in Southeast Asia, particularly as prolonged dry weather and land-clearing practices heighten the risk of extensive forest and peat fires.
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