Pekanbaru, Riau (Antara) - Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya said the Malaysian government must punish the eight Malaysian corporations if later they are found involved in land burning in the Riau province.
"We will act according to our law and we appeal they would do the same," Balthasar said here on Saturday.
He said eight Malaysian palm oil corporations were strongly believed to have conducted land burning that has caused current massive forest fires in Riau.
The corporations are PT Langgam Inti Hiberida, PT Bumi Reksa Nusa Sejati, PT Tunggal Mitra Plantation, PT Udaya Loh Dinawi, PT Adei Plantation, PT Jatim Jaya Perkasa, PT Multi Gambut Industri and PT Mustika Agro Lestari.
He said the Indonesian government would take stern action regardless whether the companies are foreign companies. In this case "the Indonesian law applies," he said.
The handling of the case would be based on the law on environment protection and management, he said adding that companies who have been careless to make their concession areas burned would also be dealt with.
Companies that are proven to have deliberately conducted land burning would be criminally charged.
The minister said he would make known the eight companies at the ASEAN ministerial meeting scheduled next Tuesday.
"I would also reveal the names of the companies to the Malaysian environment minister." (*)
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Jawa Timur 2013
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Jawa Timur 2013