Indonesian official roasted over 'oxygen' response to haze
JAKARTA: An Indonesian official has been mocked online after claiming the country’s forests supply oxygen to Malaysia and Singapore despite recurring haze from its own forest and land fires.
Jakarta, Indonesia: An Indonesian government official faced ridicule after asserting that the nation's forests provide oxygen to neighboring Malaysia and Singapore, despite frequent haze caused by its own forest and land fires. Syahganda Nainggolan, head of the Government Communications Agency, made the claim in a now widely shared video.
He stated that when there is no smoke from Indonesia's fires, they send oxygen instead. The comment sparked widespread criticism on social media, with some users questioning the logic behind the statement and others comparing it to Malaysia being on Mars or a desert. The remarks were deemed insensitive and trivializing by critics, who emphasized the serious health impacts of the haze on people in Malaysia and Singapore. The haze has resulted in unhealthy air quality and school closures in several Malaysian states.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
