SHAH ALAM, 1 Oct: At least three years is required by Indonesia to address field and forest burning in the country, thus solving the haze problem that hits neighbouring countries every year.
Its President, Joko Widodo, said that it was impossible that the forest fire problem can be handled in a short time and three years is enough to look at the achievement of efforts to overcome the problem.
He said that Indonesia was doing its best to tackle the haze problem and this affects neighbouring countries, especially Malaysia and Singapore.
“Among the current initiatives being carried out is deploying 3,700 soldiers and 8,000 police officers, as well as four planes to put out the fire.
“We are taking immediate action to build a canal in the farmlands to always be kept moist and not flammable,” he said, taken from Bernama.
He said this in an interview on BBC Indonesia, as quoted by the local online news portal yesterday.
The Indonesian President, better known as Jokowi, said that the authorities have arrested several individuals and business owners believed to be involving in the burning of forests and farms for the purpose of replanting.
The forest fires and agricultural areas have hit several parts in Indonesia such as Riau, Sumatera Selatan, Jambi, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and East Kalimantan.
Massive burning of forests and agricultural land is believed to be done by some parties as an easy way to open up agricultural land and Malaysian and Singaporean investment companies have been often associated as being those involved.
NS
