An Indonesian lawmaker has called on Malaysia and Singapore to do more than raise concerns over the ongoing haze, arguing that parties from both countries also have plantation interests in Indonesia.
Marwan Dasopang, chairman of Indonesia’s House of Representatives Commission VIII, made the remarks on Aug 21 as smoke from forest and land fires in Kalimantan continued to affect neighbouring Malaysia.
According to Jakarta Globe, Marwan said Indonesia faces challenges in controlling the fires because of the vast areas involved.
He then pointed to Malaysian and Singaporean plantation interests in the country.
‘Don’t just protest’
Speaking at Indonesia’s parliament building in Jakarta, Marwan said Malaysia and Singapore should also take part in preventing forest and land fires.
He noted that companies and individuals from both countries operate plantations in Indonesia, including oil palm plantations.
Don’t just protest, take part in prevention too,” he said.
Marwan also claimed that parties linked to Malaysia and Singapore have some role in the emergence of forest fires, although he did not identify any specific company or provide evidence linking particular Malaysian or Singaporean-owned plantations to the ongoing fires.
He added that Indonesia could apologise through official diplomatic channels and seek assistance if necessary, but maintained that those with business interests on the ground should also play a part in prevention efforts.
But no formal protest has been confirmed
Despite Marwan’s remarks about Malaysia and Singapore “protesting”, another Indonesian lawmaker later clarified that there had been no confirmed formal diplomatic protest from either country over the current fires.
Dave Laksono, deputy chairman of Indonesia’s House Commission I, told ANTARA on Aug 22 that he had received no confirmation of an official protest note from Malaysia or Singapore.
He instead urged Indonesia to continue communicating with its ASEAN neighbours while strengthening early detection, firefighting, monitoring of land clearing and enforcement.
Malaysia’s public response has also largely focused on regional cooperation.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said Malaysia and Indonesia had agreed to strengthen hotspot monitoring and enforcement against open burning, while also exploring cooperation such as cloud seeding when necessary.
Malaysia later urged ASEAN countries to strengthen preventive measures against transboundary haze through the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.
Haze hit Sarawak hard
The comments come as parts of Sarawak have been experiencing worsening air quality due to transboundary haze.
On Aug 20, the Department of Environment said moderate to dense smoke plumes from clusters of hotspots in West Kalimantan were moving northwards into western Sarawak.
At the time, 489 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan, compared to 19 in Sumatra and 11 in Malaysia.
The haze also affected schools.
A total of 591 schools in Sarawak involving nearly 200,000 students were ordered to close temporarily on Aug 20 and 21 amid the hot and dry conditions and deteriorating air quality.
Several areas recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index readings, with some locations later reaching very unhealthy levels.
Almost 95,000 hectares burned in July
Indonesia itself has been battling a sharp rise in forest and land fires.
According to Reuters, almost 95,000 hectares of land burned across Indonesia in July alone, nearly double the amount recorded during the first six months of 2026 combined.
The worsening conditions have been linked to hotter and drier weather caused by El Niño.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has since visited affected areas in West Kalimantan and ordered a coordinated response to tackle the fires.
He also warned that corporations found to be involved in clearing land through burning would face legal action.
With smoke capable of travelling across national borders, the latest episode has once again highlighted how Indonesia’s forest fires can quickly become a regional problem affecting millions across Southeast Asia.
