Indonesian NGO links 21 Malaysian firms to forest fires causing regional haze

An Indonesian non-governmental organisation has released research identifying 21 Malaysian-linked firms it claims are connected to forest fires driving the regional haze crisis, challenging Putrajaya's assertion that no Malaysian companies are implicated.

Walhi, one of Indonesia's largest environmental groups, conducted the investigation into companies operating in fire-affected areas of Sumatra and Borneo. The NGO's findings directly contradict earlier Malaysian government statements dismissing any involvement by domestic enterprises in the fires that have blanketed parts of Malaysia in thick smoke for weeks.

The research comes as transboundary haze continues to affect air quality across Malaysia and Singapore, with authorities warning residents to limit outdoor activities. Walhi has called for a formal investigation into the identified companies, several of which reportedly operate in plantation and forestry sectors.

The revelations have reignited debate over corporate accountability in Southeast Asia's recurring haze crises. Environmental experts have long pointed to palm oil plantations and timber operations as significant contributors to the fires, which often spread rapidly during dry seasons in the region's peatland areas.

Indonesian and Malaysian authorities have previously cited natural causes and slash-and-burn agricultural practices by smallholder farmers for the fires. However, Walhi's investigation suggests larger commercial operations may bear greater responsibility than previously acknowledged by regional governments.