Sime Darby welcomes govt action against violators

Sime Darby Plantation has come out in support of implementing legislation to punish those responsible for fires on their property, even if it is outside Malaysia.

"The Zero Burning Policy has been the hallmark of Sime Darby Plantation’s (SDP) global business operations for over three decades.

"SDP adheres strictly to this policy and will continue to do so because we believe it is the right thing to do for our planet," said the company in a statement today.

This was in reaction to a statement by prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that Malaysia has to consider new laws to curb the open burning that is believed to be directly responsible for the haze affecting Malaysia right now.

Yesterday, he said the government may pass a law to prosecute Malaysian plantation companies guilty of causing fires in their property even if it is outside Malaysia.

Mahathir said the law would be used against companies that failed to put out the forest fires and were partly responsible for the haze.

"We will ask them (Malaysian companies abroad) to take action to put out the fires. But of course, if we find them unwilling to take action (to extinguish the fire), we may have to pass a law to make those responsible for fires in their property, even if it is outside Malaysia," he said.

SDP said it welcomes any positive action by the Malaysian government to ensure and strengthen the sustainable and responsible practices of our local companies, both here and abroad.

"This will further demonstrate the serious commitment of our nation to take action and become part of the solution to resolve global environmental issues," it added.

The Indonesian government has blamed four Malaysian companies responsible for forest fires in their country.

This included SDP as well as IOI Corporation, TDM Bhd and Kuala Lumpur Kepong Group.

Indonesia’s Environment Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said last week that Indonesian authorities had sealed off land belonging to subsidiaries of the four companies.

They 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).

However, SDP then denied that the plantation of PT Sime Indo Agro was sealed off.

Today, Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok said the four companies have yet to submit a full report on the situation, according to a report by BFM.

Kok said any company found to have conducted open burning risks losing their MSPO certification and that Malaysia will not defend anyone found to have broken Indonesian laws. - Mkini