2-10-2023 (JAKARTA) The Indonesian Ministry of Environment has refuted claims that forest fires in Sumatra and parts of Borneo, which have resulted in thick haze engulfing several Indonesian cities, have also impacted air quality in neighboring Malaysia.
The Department of Environment in Malaysia issued a statement on Friday warning residents about high levels of pollution along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and the western region of Sarawak in Borneo. They attributed the haze to trans-boundary smoke originating from Indonesia.
Responding to the accusations, Indonesian Environment Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar stated that Jakarta has not detected any haze moving towards neighboring countries. In a statement, she affirmed, “We continue to monitor the situation closely, and there is no trans-boundary haze affecting Malaysia.”
Currently, Indonesia is focusing its efforts on extinguishing forest fires in several provinces in Sumatra and Borneo, employing water bombing techniques from helicopters, added the minister.
In addition to sharing maritime boundaries, Malaysia shares a land border with Indonesia on Borneo island. However, the Malaysian government has not lodged a diplomatic complaint regarding the haze, according to a spokesperson from Indonesia’s foreign ministry.
This year, Indonesia’s dry season has been particularly severe, with the impact of the El Nino weather pattern exacerbating the situation. While forest fires are typically started by farmers to clear land for plantations, authorities have faced challenges in extinguishing fires due to the effects of El Nino.
According to data from the Indonesian Ministry of Environment, over 267,900 hectares (661,995.3 acres) of forests have burned so far this year, surpassing the total of 204,894 hectares burned in all of 2022. Consequently, haze has enveloped several cities in Sumatra and Borneo.
Reports from state news agency reveal that some areas in Central Kalimantan, Borneo, experienced visibility of less than 10 meters due to the thick haze. As a result of severe pollution levels, authorities have ordered remote learning for students in Palembang and Jambi cities in southern Sumatra, local media reported.
