Response to Neighboring Country's Protests about Forest Fires, Government Stresses It Will Act Against Corporations

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The government has responded to neighboring countries' protests regarding smoke from forest and land fires (karhutla).

Interior Minister Tito Karnavian stated that the government has made maximum efforts to address these forest fires.

“Yes, we have heard that. Regarding the handling of karhutla, we have been making maximum efforts,” Tito said after a Ministerial Coordination Meeting (RTM) at the Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Coordinating Ministry in Central Jakarta on Monday (19/10/2026).

Tito noted that Singapore had previously pressured palm oil companies believed to be linked to the forest fires.

This action, according to him, relates to companies with financial or business interests in Singapore.

He believes that the neighboring country’s actions against companies suspected of being involved in the karhutla are not an issue as long as they are conducted in accordance with each country's legal system and international law.

“As long as it is carried out under the respective legal systems, there is no problem. If the legal system in Singapore operates that way, and they choose to apply it according to the laws in Singapore and in accordance with international law, then we have no problem,” he stated.

Nevertheless, Tito emphasized the importance of international cooperation to control and mitigate karhutla to prevent further impacts.

He also asserted that the Indonesian government will not hesitate to take firm action against corporations proven to be involved in the forest fires.

“This includes if certain corporations are involved; the Indonesian government will not hesitate to take strong action,” he added.

Earlier reports indicated that the Singaporean government sent notifications to seven companies allegedly linked to the forest and land fires in Indonesia.

Through notifications based on the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA), the seven companies were requested to take fire prevention and handling measures.

Singapore's Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu, announced the action at a press conference on Friday (16/10/2026).

According to a report by Bloomberg via the South China Morning Post, the haze from Indonesia’s karhutla has affected air quality in both the "Neighboring Country" and the "Lion City."

The extremely dry conditions caused by the El Niño phenomenon have exacerbated the situation.

The Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA) identified the seven companies by monitoring hotspots and smoke movement using meteorological data, maps, and satellite imagery.

NEA's monitoring results indicated that smoke from fires in concession lands controlled by these companies was moving toward Singapore.

This finding forms the basis for sending notification letters requesting the companies to deploy personnel to extinguish the fires or prevent their spread.

The companies were also asked to stop or refrain from burning and to submit their fire handling and prevention plans.

However, this identification does not imply that the seven companies have been proven to violate the law.