Ex-Indonesian minister slams Syed Saddiq over ‘Asean outcast’ remark on haze

Former Indonesian trade minister Muhammad Lutfi has condemned Malaysian MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman for labeling Indonesia as an "outcast" in Asean due to the recurring transboundary haze issue. Lutfi argued that the haze is not a chance for political theatrics and that Indonesian firefighters have lost their lives while combating the fires, while hundreds of thousands of Indonesians have suffered from the smoke inhalation.

He further stated that Malaysian plantation companies, which control vast tracts of land in Indonesia and finance their operations through Malaysian banks, must also bear responsibility for the crisis. Lutfi urged that every "rogue corporation," be it from Indonesia or Malaysia, be held accountable. He also highlighted that despite the US banning imports from certain Malaysian palm oil producers for alleged forced labor, Indonesia refrained from condemning Malaysia as a nation.

Lutfi criticized Syed Saddiq for his call during the Dewan Rakyat session, which would brand an entire nation with such a derogatory title. Lutfi emphasized the need to investigate specific companies and their supply chains instead of singling out an entire country. He also urged Singapore to scrutinize the involvement of locally-based executives and corporate groups in Indonesian companies linked to land fires contributing to the haze.