[NEW UPDATE] Riau Police Investigate Malaysian Company For Forest Burning
It's only human nature for humans to point fingers at each other when things go wrong. In the case of the haze, who is to blame? Take some time to read on in order to understand the issue better.
By Melody Oei — 24 Jun 2013, 05:55 PM — Updated almost 11 years ago
Riau police investigating 18 witnesses of Malaysian company in Indonesia
A Malaysian company operating in Indonesia is being investigated for forest burning, allegedly carried out to clear land for plantations. It is 1 out of 8 Malaysian oil palm companies mentioned by Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya.
The Riau Police are investigating 18 witnesses, made up of executives and employees, of the company. They said they will soon name the company
8 farmers caught red-handed for setting forest fires
Firefighters and policemen, part of a task force that will endeavor to extinguish fires in Riau, are briefed at Halim Perdanakusumah airbase in Jakarta on Tuesday. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency has sent 2,000 personnel, including soldiers and volunteers, to try to stop the forest fires spreading
Image via thejakartapost.comPolice say eight farmers have been arrested for setting illegal fires on Indonesia's Sumatra island to clear land after numerous blazes created a choking haze in parts of Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.
The farmers were arrested Monday and Tuesday after being caught "red-handed," said local police spokesman Lt. Col. Hermansyah. He did not say whether they were employed by some companies that have been accused of deliberately starting the fires.
thestar.com.my
Riau forestry official Ahmad Saeroji estimated the burned area was around 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres). Satellite pictures have detected about 200 fires on plantations in the area.
A day after apologizing to neighboring Singapore and Malaysia, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono deployed 2,000 additional personnel Tuesday to fight the fires that have affected air quality and caused respiratory problems among some people.
thestar.com.my
"Remarks made by Indonesian office-holders need not have been put across that way."
Indonesia's president apologised to Malaysia & Singapore for the thick haze caused by forest fires on the country's Sumatra island, "As president of Indonesia, I apologise for what has happened."
He also said some remarks made by Indonesian office-holders "need not have been put across that way."
thestar.com.my
Preliminary investigations on 8 plantation companies owned by Malaysian investors
Preliminary investigations on 8 plantation companies owned by Malaysian investors.
Image via imgur.comPengarah Jabatan Perhutanan Riau, Zulkifli Yusuf berkata, ladang syarikat dari Malaysia adalah antara yang terbakar di wilayah itu.
terbakor.comSeveral Malaysian-owned companies who were accused of setting forest fires in Riau, thus causing the haze, vehemently denied by involvement on Monday, 24 June 2013.
Environment and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said Malaysian-owned plantations in Indonesia should answer to authorities there if they were proven to have conducted slash-and-burn activities.
thestar.com.my
15 Oil palm concessions with the highest share of fire alerts (from NASA)
15 Oil palm concessions with the highest share of fire alerts. Info from NASA's real-time Active Fire Data and concession maps for oil palm, logging concessions, and forestry plantation licenses, dated 2010, from the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry.
Image via wri.orgMost of the NASA fire alerts are located within the province of Riau, and chiefly within the boundaries of timber plantation and oil palm concessions.
17 Timber plantations with the highest share of fire alerts (from NASA)
17 timber plantations with the highest share of fire alerts. Information drawn from NASA's real-time Active Fire Data.
Image via wri.orgAccording to the data, companies that are part of the Sinar Mas and Raja Garuda Mas (RGM) groups own the concessions licenses where the largest numbers of fire alerts are found.
Malaysia can't take action on Malaysian companies operating in Indonesia
Indonesian firefighters from the Forest Ministry battle forest fires in Pekanbaru, capital of Riau province located on Sumatra island. (AFP PHOTO / HAFIZ ALFARISSI)
Image via channelnewsasia.com"Malaysia is unable to take action on Malaysian companies operating in Indonesia as they are governed by Indonesian laws. Indonesia must take action against these companies if the allegations are true." Palanivel said.
thestar.com.my
This aerial photograph shows smoke billowing from fires in areas surrounded by agricultural plantations in the area of Rokan Hilir town in Bengkalis Regency of Riau province, on Indonesia's Sumatra island. (AFP PHOTO)
Image via channelnewsasia.comWhat are Indonesian representatives saying about the haze?
"Singapore shouldn't be like children, in such a tizzy. Indonesian citizens also need to be looked after, there are hundreds," said Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono.
yahoo.com"Recently, we've seen a number of forest fires in the US & Australia. When those broke out, I think the first instinct was to express sympathy & solidarity, rather than wanting to blame somebody," said Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa.
thestar.com.my
Why hasn't Indonesia approved the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution?
MCA central committee member Loh Seng Kok called on Indonesia to ratify the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution as Malaysia had done 11 years ago.
fz.com
Indonesia has so far failed to ratify the 2002 Asean agreement on tackling cross-border haze pollution, a treaty criticized for its weak enforcement mechanisms.
"We have to go through a certain process to ensure there is full consensus on the treaty. Even without ratification, we've complied with the requirements of the agreement," said Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa.
aseanbusinessforum.com
What are Malaysians saying about the haze issue?
"The next year and the year after, as the haze inevitably returns, the same promises are made, but there has never been any constructive initiative to alleviate or at least ameliorate the trans-boundary haze problem."
nst.com.my
"We have to stop kidding ourselves that the haze is a temporary problem that visits us seasonally."
"This is a problem that is nearly 100% preventable...not enough emphasis can be placed on the serious effects the haze has on our economy, education and most importantly the people's health."
fz.com
More hazey stuff:
The haze situation has caused netizens to get creative and created hilarious memes. Here are the 10 best haze memes that has been going viral on the social media.
says2.com
The haze from the fires in Sumatra has lowered the quality of air in Malaysia and Singapore tremendously. Do read on about the haze and the precautions you and your family should take to minimise the haze effects on your health!
says2.com
Do masks really protect you from the haze? Should I take steps to protect myself from the haze? How bad is it? All your burning questions, answered!
says2.com
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