Indonesia Urges Neighbors Not to Blame Each Other Over Kalimantan Haze

Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has called on neighboring countries, including Malaysia and Singapore, to cease mutual accusations regarding the haze caused by land and forest fires in Kalimantan. The agency emphasized that the smoke does not recognize national borders, necessitating a collaborative approach to its management.

Berton SP Panjaitan, Acting Head of BNPB's Data, Information, and Disaster Communication Center, stated that land and forest fires are not confined by administrative or national boundaries. Therefore, he urged that efforts to combat these fires should be undertaken collectively, without engaging in speculative discussions about the source of the smoke. "So our approach is not to blame each other, but rather how each country makes maximum efforts in its territory and together reduces the impact of transboundary haze," he said.

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So our approach is not to blame each other, but rather how each country makes maximum efforts in its territory and together reduces the impact of transboundary haze.

Panjaitan acknowledged the concerns of neighboring countries regarding potential haze impacts from the Kalimantan fires. He assured them that the Indonesian government is mobilizing substantial resources to control the situation. "What we need to convey is that Indonesia is currently making optimal efforts and deploying very large resources to control land and forest fires," he added.

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What we need to convey is that Indonesia is currently making optimal efforts and deploying very large resources to control land and forest fires.