Indonesia Urged to Answer Malaysia, Singapore on Haze
Sufmi Dasco urges Indonesia to answer Malaysia and Singapore’s haze criticism with prevention, law enforcement and protection for affected residents.
JAKARTA — Indonesia should respond to criticism from Malaysia and Singapore over forest and land fires with measurable action, not offense, Deputy House Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said Wednesday, as smoke from fires across Kalimantan and Sumatra drew regional attention.
The remarks put the focus on residents affected by haze and on whether Indonesia’s response can be assessed on the ground. Dasco said neighboring countries’ concerns and recommendations deserved attention, while stressing that Indonesia did not have to accept every assessment.
Dasco calls for action on fires and haze
Dasco said criticism from legislators and members of the public in neighboring countries was a normal part of relations between states. Indonesia should answer with work whose results can be tested, he said in an official statement.
“Criticism should not be answered with resentment. Criticism should be answered with work that can be tested,” said Dasco, who leads the House of Representatives’ Political and Security Affairs division.
His proposed priorities include protecting people affected by smoke, strengthening fire prevention and enforcing the law against those responsible for burning. He also called for environmental recovery and accountability from businesses, including companies whose operations span national borders.
For communities exposed to haze, those priorities have immediate consequences: protection and action on the ground matter more than diplomatic exchanges. Preventing fires from recurring and pursuing those responsible are also central to addressing the source of the smoke, Dasco said.
“The most important thing is to protect affected residents, strengthen prevention and law enforcement, restore the environment and ensure business operators are held responsible, including those with cross-border business chains,” he said.
Call for regional dialogue before a crisis
Smoke crossing national borders gives the fires a regional dimension. Malaysia and Singapore have raised concerns, while the issue also puts attention on coordination and accountability where business activity extends across countries.
Dasco urged Asian parliaments to deepen communication before conditions turn into a crisis. Dialogue between legislative bodies should be more proactive and should not begin only after haze has become a shared problem, he said.
“I believe it is time for Asian parliaments to sit closer together, not only when a crisis occurs,” Dasco said.
He said Indonesia should give due weight to criticism from Malaysia and Singapore without feeling obliged to accept every judgment. His call was for a response visible in verifiable work on the ground.
