Indonesian authorities announced on Oct. 19 that police are investigating 98 cases involving corporations in connection with widespread land and forest fires. The announcement was made as officials from Indonesia and Singapore held discussions regarding cooperation to manage the fires and the resulting transboundary haze affecting the region.
Suyudi Ario Seto, the director for certain crimes at the Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department, stated that investigators were in the process of gathering evidence. He said that authorities expect to identify suspects and that the investigation could extend to company owners and shareholders to determine accountability for the fires.
The investigations are a response to a significant number of fires, primarily concentrated in the provinces of South Sumatra and Central Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. According to data from Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry, thousands of fire hotspots have been detected across the country in recent months. The fires have burned extensive areas of forest and peatland, contributing to poor air quality within Indonesia and neighboring countries.
The smoke has created a persistent haze that has impacted air quality in Singapore and Malaysia. In early October, Singapore’s 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reached levels described as “unhealthy” by the country’s National Environment Agency, leading to public health advisories. Similarly, multiple areas in Malaysia reported unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings during the same period, prompting temporary school closures in some districts.
Indonesian officials have attributed the severity of this year’s fire season in part to the El Niño weather pattern, which has resulted in prolonged dry conditions and increased the risk of fires spreading.
In response to the regional impact, officials from Indonesia’s Environment and Forestry Ministry have engaged in discussions with their counterparts in Singapore. The talks have focused on potential assistance, including the use of cloud-seeding aircraft to induce rain over affected areas and other technical support for firefighting operations on the ground. The governments continue to coordinate on measures to mitigate the environmental and health effects of the haze.
