Forum: Indonesia must take responsibility for policing its own backyard on haze
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Foreign-owned plantation companies in Indonesia do not operate in a legal vacuum. Holding land concessions in Sumatra or Kalimantan requires local incorporation, placing them squarely under Indonesian jurisdiction. Only Jakarta has the authority to audit concessions, freeze assets and prosecute executives.
Singapore and Malaysia cannot cross borders to enforce laws without violating sovereignty. Indonesia cannot fiercely guard its sovereignty when it comes to foreign investment, then outsource law enforcement when peatlands burn.
Blaming foreign ownership for decades of environmental destruction reflects weak laws, broken enforcement or entrenched interests. None of this lets irresponsible corporations off the hook. Bad actors should face ruthless scrutiny from investors, banks and consumers in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Environmental, social and governance commitments mean nothing if they stop at national borders.
Sovereignty is not just a shield against foreign interference; it is a duty to govern your own backyard.
Indonesia must stop using company nationality as a diplomatic smokescreen. Publish transparent concession maps, prosecute offending subsidiaries regardless of ownership, and permanently revoke repeat offenders’ licences.
Chew Kok Liang