INDONESIA’S annual air pollution that blankets Southeast Asia is partly due to authorities having trouble enforcing laws against the illegal burning of forests, said environmental scholars.

Over the past few days, the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre has noted the build-up of moderate to dense smoke due to an increase in hotspots in the republic, particularly in parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan.

“For some Indonesians, the slash-and-burn technique is the fastest way for site preparation,” said Tarsoen Waryono, a professor at University of Indonesia’s Faculty of Geography in Jakarta.

“Even though the government has regulations against the practice, it continues. Those who burn would go into hiding, and are difficult to be located by the authorities.”

Much of the open burning occurs in peat forests, with small-scale farmers and large companies competing for limited agricultural space to feed an increasing population. Firms are also known to use fires to clear land, to make way for oil palm plantations.

Many farmers are planting for subsistence purposes and are known to plant on land that are not theirs, said Deddy Hadriyanto of University of Mulawarman’s Forestry Faculty in Samarinda, East Kalimantan.

“They do a ‘hit-and-run’. They set fire to an area in a peat forest, and then they run. They come back to plant after the authorities visit the site  – if they come,” said Deddy, who believes the air pollution is the result of blazes started by both farmers and companies.

“The government has regulations, and the farmers are aware of them. But this is a matter of basic need. So, they ignore the regulations because they are planting to survive,” he said, adding that rice is a commonly planted crop.  

The Malaysian Meteorological Department has warned of “unhealthy” air quality in Sarawak (Sri Aman, Serian, Kuching and Betong), several states in the peninsula (Pahang, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Malacca, Negri Sembilan and Johor) and Sabah (Tenom and Sipitang).

In addition, the Environment Department said cloud-seeding operations will be carried out, especially in Sarawak, if the atmosphere is stable and suitable, to reduce the smoke there.

It was reported that Malaysia has offered to help Indonesia put out forest fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra.

Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin said the message was conveyed to Indonesian Minister Counsellor Agus Badrul Jamal and the counsellor for information, and social and cultural affairs at the Indonesian embassy. – September 13, 2019.