Malaysia: Plantation Association Calls For Delicate Tackling Of Indonesian Fires, Haze

Ahmad Fuad Yahya Bernama 19 Jul 13;

JAKARTA, July 19 (Bernama) -- The Association of Plantation Investors of Malaysia in Indonesia (APIMI) has called for the fire and haze issue in Indonesia to be dealt with composure, in sustainable engagement and on a responsive basis.

APIMI chairman Datuk Abdul Wahab Maskan said this was important as the issue involved Asean countries, particularly Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

"The annual issue on fire and haze must be tackled delicately by all governments involved and be put as a top priority agenda when the related governments meet during bilateral meetings or Asean meetings before the (fire) hot spots season," he said in a statement here Friday.

He expressed hope for the establishment of a permanent special task force on fire and haze by the relevant governments to ensure that members who were facing the problem be assisted in any way that they could.

"The collaboration between G to G (government to government) is very important and this is supported by the B to B (business to business) platforms. B to B should be no issue as for the Indonesia Malaysia Palm Oil Group (IMPOG), the topic will be deliberated between the two countries' representatives," he said.

Abdul Wahab said all parties involved in the fire and haze must collaborate to find a solution to the issue rather than finding fault on who should be blamed.

He said Malaysia, via G to G, was always supportive of the efforts by the Indonesian government to find solutions and to stop the fire and haze.

APIMI members, he said, had been responsible operators and observed best practices like other respectable plantation operators in Indonesia, while the Indonesian authorities had generally been responsible and responsive to the needs of plantation investors in Indonesia.

The APIMI chairman reaffirmed that Malaysian companies were not generally at fault in clearing land in Indonesia using fire, which caused smoke that had affected Singapore and parts of Malaysia recently.

He said some of the APIMI members accused of causing the fire in Riau last month had clarified their innocence and were committed at all times to cooperating with the relevant government authorities in their investigations into the source of the fires in Riau.

Abdul Wahab said reports had been submitted to the relevant authorities and it had been proven that they were clear of any involvement in causing the fires.

"I can assure that APIMI members have generally all along had a policy of zero burning. They have assured that they have observed the advisory procedures in managing their respective plantations and have also been reminded every early in the year to be prepared on the hot spots issue, and steps to overcome the issue were also printed for members via bulletin," he said.

APIMI members, he said, also had their own SOPs to ensure that they avoided any open burning activity and there was also a special task force to assist authorities should any open burning be caused by others.

"In the APIMI AGM held recently, members of the association confirmed that they practice zero burning for any activity within their respective plantations and supported the Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) which prohibits open burning in replanting activities, and emphasised environmental and eco-friendly farming practices," he said.

The statement made by Darrel Webber, secretary-general of the Roundtable Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), on July 5 had also proven that none of the APIMI members were involved in the fires and haze in Riau.

RSPO, he said, had carried out an analysis with the help of an international research expert and a scientist and the findings showed that none of the companies accused were involved in causing the fires in Riau.

-- BERNAMA

Sime Darby in haze issue talks
Isabelle Lai The Star 19 Jul 13;

PETALING JAYA: Sime Darby Plantation has engaged with the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to discuss issues faced in resolving the haze problem.

It said this engagement was done to provide all and any assistance to the authorities so a sustainable and long-term solution could be found.

In a press statement, Sime Darby Plantation said it was also willing to discuss this issue with the Indonesian authorities in order to find an equitable solution to the problem.

The company added that several internal and external discussions had been held with relevant stakeholders.

It expressed the need to clearly demarcate areas which were under the company’s control with those occupied by local communities within a licensed concession area.

“This would help to ensure that responsibility for occupation and use of land is clear,” it said.

It added that it would maintain the current boundaries of its operating areas and would continue to work closely with Indonesian authorities as well as educate local communities on sustainable farming practices.

Eight Malaysian-owned firms, including Sime Darby Plantation, came under fire when the Indone­sian Government claimed that their subsidiaries were some of the culprits responsible for the open burning, resulting in the thick haze which travelled across Singapore and Malaysia.

Sime Darby Plantation had said in response that the five hotspots detected in PT Bhumireksa Nusa Sejati concession areas in Riau, Sumatra, were not in areas planted by the company.

It said the hotspots were from traditional farming methods by the local communities, adding that the concession holders had no control or influence over their practices or activities.

PT Bhumireksa Nusa Sejati is ow­n­­­­-ed by PT Minamas Gemilang, a sub­sidiary of Sime Darby Plantation.