GREENPEACE Malaysia held a protest outside Wisma Genting in Kuala Lumpur today, demanding accountability from the conglomerate’s plantation arm over forest fires in Indonesia that caused choking smoke to envelope Malaysia in recent weeks.

A copy of the organisation’s investigative findings was presented to a representative of Genting Plantations Bhd outside the building along with photo evidence that showed the GPS locations of the fires.

According to Greenpeace, the fires were found on September 12 at Genting subsidiary PT Globalindo Agung Lestari in Central Kalimantan.

The global environmental group recently revealed that a mapping analysis by its Indonesian chapter showed that PT Globalindo Agung Lestari was among 10 offenders with the largest areas of burned land between 2015 and 2018.

“Malaysian-owned Genting Group, via its subsidiary PT Globalindo Agung Lestari, was found to be among 10 companies listed as having the largest burned areas on their land in Indonesia,” it said.

However, none of the 10 offenders ever faced any civil or administrative sanctions, it added.

Greenpeace Malaysia’s Heng Kiah Chun today said at the protest that Genting in Indonesia had 100ha of its land burnt at its concessionaires between 2015 and 2018.

“Tackling forest fires is not only Indonesia’s responsibility alone. Both the Malaysian and Indonesian governments need to look at where the fires are burning, why, and who is behind them to hold the main culprits behind the fires accountable; especially now that smoke from Indonesia forest fires is spreading beyond the country’s boundaries,” Heng told protesters who were dressed in traditional clothes to represent Malaysia’s different cultures. 

“We cannot afford to shoulder the burden of recurring issues with air pollution – both for the sake of our people and its effects on the tourism industry.”

Heng said the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution has failed to be effective in preventing smoke pollution due to a lack of transparency among countries and conflict of interest.

“This time, Asean members must cooperate with the government of Indonesia to tackle this problem once and for all and work together, taking effective action to implement a Transboundary Haze Pollution Act to hold reckless companies accountable.”

The Malaysian Insight has reached out to Genting Plantations for comments and is still waiting for a response. – September 26, 2019.