Ministry looks into working with Indonesia to fight fires causing haze

The plantation and commodities ministry in Malaysia is considering collaborating with Indonesia to combat forest and land fires that have caused haze in the region. This proposal comes after Greenpeace and Pantau Gambut raised concerns about Malaysian plantation companies accused of contributing to the fires in Indonesia. The Malaysian ministry reviewed reports from Sept 10 where six Malaysian companies were sought for information on preventative measures in their operations. Regular updates were also gathered to monitor the situation.

Despite reports implicating an Indonesian subsidiary of Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, the Malaysian ministry acknowledged the company's adherence to a zero-burning policy. Authorities noted that most fires originated outside the company's concession areas. Indonesian police are currently handling 247 cases involving individuals, while the environment ministry identified 57 business entities with burned concessions across eight provinces. These areas spanned 33,514 hectares, with 29,700 in Kalimantan and 3,813 in Sumatra.

Administrative sanctions were imposed on 26 parties, including the revocation of five business permits, suspension of 13 permits, and warnings or restoration orders. Out of 46 legal entities involved in criminal cases, 17 were in the preliminary inquiry stage, while 27 are under investigation, including five companies and 22 individuals.

The Indonesian government continues to bolster fire suppression operations to minimize the impact of transboundary haze. These efforts involve mobilizing military personnel, police, forest fire brigades, disaster management agencies, and community volunteers. Additional measures like weather modification, water bombing, peatland rewetting, and land preparation without burning are also being undertaken.