Of these, 42 cases involve companies, one of which is Kayung Agro Lestari. Commodities trader Wilmar global Ltd. said last week it continues to review its links with two palm oil suppliers that are being probed for their participation in the blazes.
Advertisement
Malaysia’s premier has urged Indonesia to act against those to blame for raging fires that have blanketed Southeast Asia in smog for weeks, as Malaysian schools closed again yesterday over health concerns.
The forest fires that cause the haze have been an annual occurrence since the late 1990s.
A lengthy dry season in Indonesia this year has been worsened by the El Nino weather effect, making it harder to contain the fires in the absence of rains that usually arrive in November.
Presidential spokesman Ari Dwipayana told AFP that companies found to be responsible for lighting fires could have their business permits revoked, but added: “All this takes time”.
The 3-hour Pollutants Standard Index (PSI) hit a high of 186 past 4pm.
“The haze from Kalimantan are not only affecting Sabah and Sarawak now, the wind patterns are also spreading it to west coast of peninsula Malaysia, Singapore, and even the Sulu Islands in the Philippines”. “What we are looking for is someone or an organisation that has incurred losses of a few thousand dollars or more due the haze”.
The unhealthy air has also increased the workload for doctors in Malaysia and Singapore, where the haze has clouded the build-up to the Formula One night race to be held there later this week. People are walking on the streets with their nose and face covered.
The education ministry has passed an order, saying that all schools must remain closed on Monday and Tuesday, except for those in the outlying areas. The offenders are mostly palm oil plantations, as well as pulp and paper companies. Provident Agro is the majority owner of PT Langgam Inti Hibrindo, which had its permit suspended last month pending an investigation into forest fires.
The government has frozen and revoked 4 plantation firms for their involvement in forest fires.
The 10 have declared that they do not buy or use any materials from Indonesian producers which are facing legal action by Singapore.
Advertisement
A cyclist wearing a mask rides a motorcycle as smoke shrouds Palangkaraya in Indonesia.
