Most Indonesia fires outside Malaysian-owned plantation, says official

A government spokesperson said on Tuesday that the majority of fires currently affecting Indonesia originated outside the concession operated by Malaysian plantation company Genting Plantations, though some flames did breach the company's boundaries.

The fires that managed to spread into the Genting Plantations property have since been brought under control, according to the statement. The company's operations are located in one of Indonesia's key plantation regions, an area frequently affected by fires during the dry season.

The remarks come as Indonesia continues to grapple with widespread fires across multiple provinces, a recurring environmental challenge that often sees cross-border smoke affecting neighbouring countries including Malaysia. Authorities typically attribute many of the fires to agricultural land-clearing practices, though investigations into specific incidents often take considerable time.

The successful containment of fires at the Malaysian-owned facility marks a positive development in regional fire management efforts, though concerns remain about the broader fire situation across Indonesian plantation areas.