Indonesia haze remarks: Bakom chief asks neighbours to understand

Indonesia haze remarks by a senior official have drawn attention in Malaysia and Singapore. Syahganda Nainggolan heads the Government Communications Agency, known as Bakom.

He spoke to reporters in Jakarta on Saturday, 10 October. He asked neighbouring countries to understand that the fires are a natural event. He also said Indonesia’s forests supply oxygen to the region.

He said talks with Malaysia on handling the fires are under way. The Indonesia haze remarks came as both governments discuss joint action. This report draws on Warta Ekonomi, Viva, IDN Times and Mothership.SG. Quotes are translated from Indonesian.

What Syahganda said about haze

Syahganda spoke at the National Resilience Institute, known as Lemhannas, in Jakarta. Mothership.SG says Kompas first reported the remarks.

He asked neighbours for understanding. In translation, he said: “We ask all our neighbours to understand that this is beyond human error. This is truly nature.”

He then spoke about oxygen. In translation, he said: “We are not only sending smoke. When there is no smoke, we send oxygen. Singapore’s and Malaysia’s oxygen comes from our forests.”

IDN Times quoted him on relations as well. He said ties with Malaysia are fairly good. He also said Indonesia was trying to explain the situation to its neighbours.

He spoke of what he had seen too. He said he was sad to see residents in Pontianak and parts of Riau struggling to breathe. He added that people were praying for rain.

Talks between the two governments

Syahganda confirmed that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had spoken to President Prabowo Subianto. He said discussions between the two governments were already under way.

He said Malaysia’s Foreign Minister, Mohamad Hasan, and his Indonesian counterpart, Arrmanatha Nasir, were discussing joint handling of the fires. The specific cooperation arrangements remain unclear.

Asked what joint steps would follow, Syahganda said he did not yet know the details. He said he would check with the Foreign Ministry.

According to Mothership.SG, Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu, said Singaporeans stand ready to assist. We have not checked this against an official statement.

Mothership.SG also cited the Straits Times. It said BNPB, Indonesia’s disaster agency, prefers ground crews to aircraft because visibility is low. We have not verified this either.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported 23 areas nationwide with unhealthy air as of 10am on 12 October. The figures come from the Department of Environment’s APIMS portal. Kota Tinggi in Johor was highest at 170. Readings of 101 to 200 are unhealthy.