‘We send oxygen when there’s no smoke’: Indonesian official brushes off haze criticism in Malaysia, Singapore

In response to regional criticism of transboundary haze, Indonesian Communications Agency head Syahganda Nainggolan highlighted Indonesia's role in supplying oxygen to Malaysia and Singapore through its rainforests.

While his comments have sparked controversy, Syahganda confirmed ongoing bilateral negotiations between Indonesia and Malaysia to coordinate joint efforts in combating forest fires.

Malaysian and Indonesian foreign ministers are in detailed discussions to tackle the issue, as air quality in Malaysia worsens, triggering concerns and proposed multilateral cooperation.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 — Indonesian Communications Agency head Syahganda Nainggolan has pushed back against regional criticism over transboundary haze, claiming that Indonesia’s tropical rainforests are responsible for supplying oxygen to Malaysia and Singapore.

His remarks were featured in a video interview published by Indonesian media outlet Kompas .

“We don’t just send smoke; when there is no smoke, we send oxygen.

“The oxygen in Singapore and Malaysia also comes from our forests,” he said.

The controversial comments mirror previous diplomatic friction over the perennial environmental crisis, where Indonesian officials have pushed back against cross-border complaints by pointing to the ecological value of their forest cover.

Bilateral negotiations underway

Despite his remarks, Syahganda confirmed that Jakarta and Putrajaya are actively engaging in bilateral discussions to coordinate joint operations to combat the forest and peatland fires triggering the smoke canopy.

He maintained that strong diplomatic ties between the two neighbours provide an essential foundation for resolving the crisis, noting that on-the-ground firefighting operations face steep natural and logistical hurdles, Bernama reported.

“Malaysia’s foreign minister and Indonesia’s foreign minister are holding detailed discussions to find solutions and jointly address the forest and land fires,” he told reporters on Saturday.

Syahganda was responding to questions regarding Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s confirmation of Malaysia’s readiness to deploy firefighting assets to assist Indonesia, alongside a proposal to convene an emergency regional meeting of environment ministers to coordinate multilateral action.

The remarks arrive as air quality deteriorated sharply across Peninsular Malaysia, with 22 of the country’s 68 monitoring stations logging unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings this morning just as schools in several states prepared to resume physical classes.

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针对区域内对跨境雾霾的批评，印尼通信局局长沙赫甘达·奈因戈兰强调了印尼通过其热带雨林向马来西亚和新加坡供应氧气的作用。

尽管他的言论引发了争议，但沙赫甘达证实，印度尼西亚和马来西亚之间正在进行双边谈判，以协调共同努力扑灭森林火灾。

马来西亚和印度尼西亚的外长正在就解决该问题进行详细讨论，因为马来西亚的空气质量恶化，引发了人们的担忧，并提出了多边合作的建议。

吉隆坡，10 月 12 日——印尼通讯局局长 Syahganda Nainggolan 反驳了有关跨境雾霾的区域批评，声称印尼的热带雨林负责向马来西亚和新加坡提供氧气。

他的讲话被印尼媒体《罗盘报》发布在一段视频采访中。

“我们不只是输送烟雾；如果没有烟雾，我们就输送氧气。”

他说：“新加坡和马来西亚的氧气也来自我们的森林。”

这些引发争议的言论反映了此前因长期存在的环境危机而导致的外交摩擦，当时印尼官员通过强调其森林覆盖的生态价值来反驳跨境投诉。

双边谈判正在进行中

尽管他发表了上述言论，但沙赫甘达证实，雅加达和布城正在积极进行双边会谈，以协调联合行动，打击引发烟雾笼罩的森林和泥炭地火灾。

据马新社报道，他强调两国之间牢固的外交关系为解决危机提供了必要的基础，并指出实地消防行动面临着严峻的自然和后勤障碍。

“马来西亚外交部长和印度尼西亚外交部长正在举行详细会谈，以寻求解决方案并共同应对森林和土地火灾，”他周六告诉记者。

Syahganda是在回应有关马来西亚总理拿督斯里安华·易卜拉欣确认马来西亚已准备好部署消防资源协助印度尼西亚，以及提议召开紧急区域环境部长会议以协调多边行动的问题时做出上述表态的。

就在马来西亚半岛空气质量急剧恶化之际，上述言论发表了。今天上午，该国 68 个监测站中有 22 个记录到空气污染指数 (API) 读数不健康，而就在此时，几个州的学校正准备恢复线下授课。

马来西亚牙科协会（MDA）呼吁，2027年预算案医生吸收计划出台后，不要将合同制牙医排除在外。

哥打毛律和纳闽的居民被告知不要惊慌，低空飞行的飞机是马来西亚皇家空军演习的一部分。

柔佛州教育局表示，每日停课通知是例行更新，与该州的雾霾令并不冲突。