BNPB Urges Malaysia and Singapore Not to Blame Each Other Over Kalimantan Forest Fire Haze

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has asked neighbouring countries, such as Malaysia and Singapore, not to blame each other regarding the impact of haze from forest and land fires (karhutla) in Kalimantan. This is because forest and land fires do not recognise national borders.

Acting Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Centre, Berton SP Panjaitan, said that forest and land fire events are not always confined by administrative or national boundaries. Therefore, handling of forest and land fires needs to be carried out jointly without speculatively debating the source of the haze.

“So our approach is not to blame each other, but how each country makes maximum efforts in its own territory and jointly reduces the impact of transboundary haze,” he said on Sunday (23/8/2026).

Berton said he understood the concerns of several neighbouring countries regarding the possible impact of haze from forest and land fires occurring in Kalimantan. For this reason, the government has deployed substantial resources to control the forest and land fires.

“What we need to convey is that Indonesia is currently making optimal efforts and deploying very substantial resources to control forest and land fires,” he said.