Police Chief on Foreign Companies Involved in Forest Fires: There Are Neighboring Countries

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - National Police Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto has stated that there are foreign companies involved in the forest and land fires in Indonesia, including those from neighboring countries.

“Yes, there are neighboring countries involved,” Suyudi said during a press conference following a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta on Monday (19/10/2026).

Suyudi did not specify the identities of the foreign parties implicated in the forest and land fires in Indonesia, only mentioning the information in general terms.

“There is indeed foreign involvement, yes, there is foreign involvement,” Suyudi added.

The investigation into the foreign parties' involvement is still ongoing. The police are currently examining 98 police reports related to the forest and land fires.

“We are sorting through these cases to identify which ones involved foreign parties and which ones did not,” he emphasized.

Comments from Neighboring Countries

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated his country's willingness to assist Indonesia in addressing the forest and land fires (karhutla) that have caused transboundary haze.

Malaysia has also proposed a cooperation mechanism at the ASEAN level to strengthen coordination in addressing this issue.

As for Singapore, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated that the government is investigating companies that may be responsible for the forest and peatland fires in Indonesia.

“If necessary, we will take action based on Singapore's Transboundary Haze Pollution Act and explore joint actions with other countries,” Wong wrote in a social media post on Thursday (15/10/2026), as reported by Channel News Asia (CNA).

The mentioned Act came into effect in September 2014.

The Singapore government has sent notices to seven companies suspected of being connected to the forest and land fires (karhutla) in Indonesia.