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Indonesia vows to penalize firms blamed for forest and land fires

Forestry ministry data shows more than 202,000 hectares burned from January to July, including nearly 95,000 hectares in July alone.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Asia

Massive forest and land fires in Indonesia have released haze toward neighboring Malaysia, prompting President Prabowo Subianto to pledge firm action against large corporations found responsible, including penalties under the law, according to SCMP Economy. Prabowo said Jakarta will go after companies if they are proven guilty, as he traveled over the weekend from West Kalimantan to Central Kalimantan to assess damage in person and meet local officials coordinating emergency response efforts. The fires are part of a wider trend, with forestry ministry data cited by SCMP Economy showing that more than 202,000 hectares were burned between January and July, including nearly 95,000 hectares in July alone. Six provinces have been designated as priorities for firefighting, including Riau, Jambi and South Sumatra on Sumatra, plus West, Central and South Kalimantan on Borneo. SCMP Economy also noted that fires have broken out beyond those priority areas, including in Java, Papua and Nusa Tenggara.

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