‘We send oxygen when there’s no smoke’: Indonesian official brushes off haze criticism in Malaysia, Singapore

Indonesian Communications Agency head Syahganda Nainggolan has deflected regional criticism over transboundary haze, asserting that Indonesia’s rainforests provide oxygen to Malaysia and Singapore. In a Kompas video interview, he said, “We don’t just send smoke; when there is no smoke, we send oxygen.” Nainggolan’s comments echo previous diplomatic disputes, as Indonesian officials have countered cross-border complaints by emphasizing the ecological worth of their forest cover.

While acknowledging ongoing bilateral negotiations between Jakarta and Putrajaya to coordinate joint operations against the fires, Nainggolan emphasized the importance of strong ties between the two nations in resolving the crisis. He noted that Malaysia’s and Indonesia’s foreign ministers are engaged in detailed talks to find solutions and jointly tackle the forest and land fires.

The remarks come amid deteriorating air quality in Peninsular Malaysia, with 22 monitoring stations reporting unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings, prompting schools in several states to resume in-person classes.