KJ slams ‘banana republic’ Indonesia over severe haze

Former Malaysian minister Khairy Jamaluddin has criticised Indonesia for failing to prevent forest and land fires in Kalimantan that have caused severe haze in Malaysia, particularly in Sarawak. Khairy blamed Indonesia's weak enforcement on the ground and its ineffective prosecution of environmental offences for the fires. He described Indonesia as a "banana republic," stating that while Malaysia and Singapore have tried to enforce transboundary haze laws, the enforcement in Indonesia has been largely symbolic.

The Indonesian environmental group Walhi had previously attributed the fires to deforestation for palm oil plantations, mines, and other land-clearing activities, which leaves the land dry and vulnerable to combustion, exacerbated by El Nino. Khairy also criticized ASEAN for its inability to curb the recurring haze issue, citing the Transboundary Haze Agreement's lack of sanctions, penalties, or accountability.