KUALA LUMPUR, June 29-Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) plantation arm TH Plantations Bhd (THP) said Indonesian authorities found no evidence of open burning within its Indonesian plantation company, PT TH Indo Plantations (PTTHIP).
Officials of Indonesian Environment Ministry, the police and local authorities visited PTTHIP plantations, particularly the area or coordinates marked as hotspots based on satellite images provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
“The hotspots indicated by the satellite images are in fact located on land owned by local communities and adjacent to PTTHIP plantations, where incidences of open burning were indeed observed.
“These findings, substantiated earlier observation that the open fires might have originated from bordering plantations occupied by local communities who are cultivating their own crops,” said THP in a statement yesterday.
PTTHIP, formerly known as PT Multi Gambut Industri, was reported as one of the eight Malaysian plantation companies alleged to be responsible for the current haze.
THP reaffirmed that the company and its group of companies were not involved in any open burning activities that might have contributed to the haze.
It had always adhered to a strict zero-burning policy, both in Malaysia and Indonesia, and placed great emphasis on observing environmentally-friendly practices and policies throughout its operations.
The statement said PTTHIP plantations in Riau, Indonesia are at a mature stage and as such very minimal land development and replanting activities are being carried out.
-BERNAMA
