Prabowo Apologizes to Singapore, Malaysia Over Haze at ASEAN Summit

"We have revoked 17 corporate concessions. Twenty-six companies are currently under investigation, and 11 have been charged," he said. "Another 23 companies are slated to be charged. In total, 104 companies are under investigation by our police force."

Companies under investigation or charged are suspected of responsibility, and no verdicts have been reported.

Firefighting toll

Prabowo told fellow leaders that Indonesia had deployed 71,000 personnel. Sixteen firefighters died and many others were injured.

"We lost 16 people who died, and many more were injured while battling the fire. We also lost two helicopters," he said.

He argued that Indonesia must shift from fighting fires and limiting damage toward systematic prevention. The government is preparing a new agency and programs to strengthen prevention, he said.

Regional response

The apology follows an agreement last month between Singapore and Indonesia to set up a joint task force. It will investigate companies linked to the fires behind the cross-border haze.

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong proposed on Sunday that the task force grow into an ASEAN-wide platform. It would share information and evidence so countries can hold companies accountable for haze-causing fires.

Philippine Foreign Minister Theresa Lazaro said Indonesia was very candid about what it had done to address the fires. Leaders also encouraged ASEAN members to prioritize ratifying the ASEAN Coordinating Center on Transboundary Haze Pollution Control, she told a news briefing.