Indonesian police are investigating a subsidiary of a Japanese firm as part of a sweeping crackdown on 97 companies suspected of contributing to severe forest and land fires affecting multiple islands, Xinhua reported on October 29, 2026. The ongoing fires have scorched more than 1.9 million hectares of land across Indonesia as of the end of September, according to deforestation monitoring platform Nusantara Atlas data.
Indonesian Authorities Name Suspects in Nationwide Enforcement Effort
During an official live-streamed press conference, Indonesian authorities identified the Japanese firm’s subsidiary by its initials, PT MTI. The action forms part of a broader nationwide enforcement effort. On October 19, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman noted that the 97 companies under scrutiny were flagged through reports gathered by regional and national police units.
According to Kompas, the Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri) has formally named 245 individuals and 20 corporations as suspects in forest and land fire cases, locally known as karhutla. Police Chief General Asep Safrudin stated that four of the twenty corporations designated as suspects are foreign investment companies, while the remaining sixteen are domestic entities.
Bareskrim Polri recorded 287 police reports covering a total burnt area of 5,859.12 hectares. Cases involving companies span 104 police reports, accounting for 29,168.78 damaged hectares. West Kalimantan Police registered the highest volume with 68 reports, followed by Riau Police with 59 reports and Central Kalimantan Police with 43.
“The police will not tolerate forest and land fires, whether caused intentionally or due to negligence, that lead to environmental damage and losses for the community. Law enforcement is carried out based on evidence through Scientific Crime Investigation in accordance with applicable legal provisions,” Police Chief General Asep Safrudin stated during the briefing covered by Kompas.
The targeted corporations face prosecution under Article 98 paragraphs (1), (2), (3), Article 99 paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and Article 108 of Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning the Protection and Management of the Environment. These statutes penalize actions that intentionally or negligently cause environmental degradation and land burning.
As reported by ANTARA Foto, the high-profile press conference at the West Kalimantan Regional Police Headquarters brought together key regional officials. These included West Kalimantan Regional Police Chief Inspector General Pol Alberd Teddy Benhard Sianipar, West Kalimantan Governor Ria Norsan, Regional Military Command XII/Tanjungpura Commander Major General TNI Novi Rubadi Sugito, and West Kalimantan High Prosecutor’s Office Head Emilwan Ridwan.
JCorp Refutes Links to Forest Fire Reports
The intensified enforcement arrives amid broader environmental scrutiny across Southeast Asia. An analysis published by the Indonesian environmental non-governmental organization WALHI claimed that 21 companies linked to Malaysian business entities were involved in land and forest fires between January and September 2026.
Among those responding to the civil society claims was Johor Corporation (JCorp). JCorp strongly refuted associations with Indonesian plantation companies cited in the WALHI report. The Malaysian state-owned institution clarified that it does not own or operate plantations outside Malaysia. JCorp explained that its wholly owned subsidiary, Kulim (Malaysia) Berhad, divested its interests in several Indonesian entities—including PT Graha Cakra Mulia, PT Sumber Mahardhika Graha, PT Salonok Ladang Mas, and PT Harapan Hibrida Kalbar—back in 2007. Subsequent divestments of PT Tempirai Palm Resources and PT Rambang Agro Jaya occurred in July 2023.
Indonesia Deploys Task Force While Malaysia Offers Assistance
To combat the widespread blazes, Indonesian authorities have mounted a massive operational response. According to ANTARA News, the National Agency for Disaster Countermeasures (BNPB) reported the deployment of 71,878 ground-based task force personnel and 63 aircraft as of October 25. This air fleet includes 39 water-bombing helicopters alongside 24 patrol and weather modification aircraft.
Amid these ongoing containment operations, the Malaysian government offered operational assistance, proposing the deployment of one CL-415MP amphibious aircraft, one Mi-171 helicopter, and 44 personnel. BNPB officials indicated that the proposal is under review to align with actual ground conditions and regulatory frameworks, ensuring operational control remains entirely with the Indonesian government.
Meanwhile, international environmental concerns extend beyond Indonesia. Xinhua noted a separate incident earlier in the month where a massive grassland fire in Mongolia, which scorched approximately 530,000 hectares, a large part of which lies within a strictly protected nature reserve, was allegedly linked to a subsidiary of Japanese telecom giant KDDI.
