Indonesia names Malaysian firm a suspect in smog-causing Riau fires

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 13 Sep 2019 2:07PM · 5 Comments

Transboundary smoke from forest fires in Indonesia is choking the region, with the air quality deteriorating to very unhealthy levels in many parts of Malaysia. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, September 13, 2019.

A MALAYSIAN-owned plantation company in Indonesia suspected of starting the forest fires in Riau has had its land in the province sealed by the authorities, who are also preparing to press charges, Indonesian media report.

Police alleged that PT Adei Plantation Industry, a subsidiary of Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KLK), had set fire to its land to clear it for planting.

Inspector-General Ronny F. Sompie said that the company allegedly conducted burning in its concession area in Riau.

“The company is responsible for the fire and has been declared a suspect but we have not determined the company’s employees who were responsible for the burning,” he told the Jakarta Post.

The Malaysian Insight is attempting to contact KLK for a response.

On June 26, the Jakarta Post published a public statement from KLK reiterating that it did not subscribe to irresponsible burning practices and that its plantation operations were in full compliance with the Asean zero burning policy.

“The purported concession area under PT Adei is mainly planted with mature palms and is at a productive stage and therefore, there are no land clearing activities for the purpose of new planting,” the statement read.

Indonesia’s Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya has previously said the forest fires in Riau were started by 14 companies, eight of which are Malaysian-owned. They are PT Langgam Inti Hiberida, PT Bumi Rakksa Sejati, PT Tunggal Mitra Plantation, PT Udaya Loh Dinawi as well as PT Jatim Jaya Perkasa, PT Multi Gambut Industri, PT Mustika Agro Lestari and PT Adei.

Indonesia’s Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said action has been taken against PT Adei Plantation Industry.

“We have checked the company from Malaysia that started the fire. It (the land) was sealed on Sept 11,” she told CNN Indoneisa.

Siti Nurbaya has also ordered checks on all Malaysian and Singaporean companies whose land is burning.

The minister recently caught flak for blaming the transboundary smoke choking the region on fires in Sarawak.

Malaysian officials, including Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin, took pains to point out to her that data from the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre tracker showed there were 474 fires in Kalimantan and 387 in Sumatra, and just seven in Malaysia.

Malaysia has offered to help her neighbour to put out the fires.  – September 13, 2019.

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Comments

  • charge whether Malaysian, Singaporean and Indonesian companies. We cannot charge them as this is under Indonesian jurisdiction. So it is matter of enforcement in your territory not Malaysian and Singaporean which we wish we can. So please talk some sense when argue where the haze comes from

    Posted 4 years ago by Wei Kuan Tan · Reply

  • Whoever is responsible, whatever nationality, charge and jail the greedy bas*ards.

    Posted 4 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply

  • This is an official statement from a Minister and we want to see this carries weight and legal avenues are been taken without hesitation as we Malaysian had enough of this haze and smog situation. Enough is enough and a good example out of it must be taken regardless of the companys country origin as it has cross the line and should be prosecuted. Hope the Minister is not picking up on a Malaysian company as a rebuttal action when our Minister corrected her findings earlier. Bare in mind KLK is a listed company, which usually would comply with rules and regulations. The Indonesian Minister has said it so now the onus is for the Indonesian side to present their case evident to proof it.

    Posted 4 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply

  • Stern action must be taken against the culprits. Listed or not, companies are known to still flaunt the laws. The police and relevant authorities must investigate the matter. If KLK is innocent, they should call for a press conference and issue a statement. They should also issue a statement to Bursa Malaysia. That should vindicate them.. if they and their subsidiary are innocent of the alleged claim..

    Posted 4 years ago by Kampung Boy · Reply

  • The parent company must make a statement and not be silent. Silence is an admission of guilt.

    Posted 4 years ago by Kampung Boy · Reply