Guthrie denies role in Indonesian forest fires

Guthrie has refuted allegations that it sparked forest fires across its Indonesian operations, stating that comprehensive ground-level assessments have revealed no active burning on its plantation holdings in the country.

The company's statement comes as regional authorities and environmental groups investigate the cause of recent forest fires that have blanketed parts of Southeast Asia in haze. Guthrie, one of Malaysia's largest plantation operators with significant land holdings in Indonesia, has faced scrutiny over fire management practices at its estates.

According to the company, its latest field examinations across its Indonesian operations detected no active fires or signs of ongoing burning. The inspections suggest that if fires occurred on or near Guthrie's properties, they were not actively burning at the time of the company's assessment.

The denial adds to ongoing debate over corporate responsibility in Indonesia's plantation sector, where fires—whether accidental, deliberately set for land clearing, or originating from neighbouring areas—remain a persistent environmental concern during dry seasons.