Genting comes under fire from Greenpeace over alleged links to Kalimantan blaze
At a gathering outside Wisma Genting, the environment NGO also handed photo evidence on their claims.
KUALA LUMPUR: Greenpeace today blamed the plantation arm of conglomerate Genting Group for the recent haze which enveloped cities in the region.
The group said thousands of hectares of land burnt in the Kalimantan forest fires were owned by PT Globalindo Agung Lestari (PT GAL), an Indonesian subsidiary of Genting Plantations Berhad.
Greenpeace Malaysia activists held a brief protest outside Wisma Genting here and handed over photo evidence taken on Sept 12, pinpointing the GPS locations of the forest fires.
The global pressure group claims that some 8,100ha of land owned by PT GAL and Genting were burnt at its concession areas between 2015 and 2018.
Greenpeace urged the government to hold accountable Malaysian companies “which are violating forest/peatland protection regulations, whether within the country or internationally”.
“Tackling forest fires is not Indonesia’s responsibility alone. Both the Malaysian and Indonesian governments need to look at where the fires are burning, why and who is behind them to hold the main culprits behind the fires accountable.
“This is especially now that haze from Indonesia forest fires is spreading beyond the country’s boundaries,” said Greenpeace Malaysia spokesman Heng Kiah Chun.
FMT is attempting to get a response from Genting.
Indonesia has named four Malaysian companies which it claimed were involved in slash-and-burn clearing of forests.
The companies are West Kalimantan-based Sime Indo Agro, a unit of Sime Darby Plantation; Sukses Karya Sawit, a unit of IOI Corporation; Rafi Kamajaya Abadi, a unit of TDM Bhd; and Riau-based Adei Plantation and Industry, a unit of Kuala Lumpur Kepong Group.
Putrajaya had warned that local companies found to be linked to the haze may be penalised.
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The haze last week forced the suspension of schools nationwide, affecting millions of students, after air pollutant index (API) readings hit unhealthy levels.