JAKARTA: An Indonesian official has been mocked online after claiming the country's forests supply oxygen to Malaysia and Singapore despite recurring haze from its own forest and land fires.
"We do not just send smoke, but when there is no smoke, we send oxygen," Indonesian Government Communications Agency chief Syahganda Nainggolan said in a now-viral video.
"The oxygen in Singapore and Malaysia also comes from our forests," he said in the video published on Saturday.
The remarks drew scorn from social media users, with one sarcastically asking whether Syahganda thought Malaysia was on Mars.
Another, Johari Johar, questioned whether he thought Malaysia was a desert.
"Supply oxygen? Seriously? Ever since the haze started, I've constantly been hit by the flu, fever and cough. It's not just me — everyone in the house has fallen sick," said Sheeren Ren.
Azhar Za Lacabusier said: "What does oxygen have to do with the haze? The real question is how to resolve the haze problem, which has never been solved."
Earlier today, Stulang assemblyman Andrew Chen said Syahganda's remarks trivialised the health concerns of Malaysians affected by the haze.
He described the remarks as "a joke" and "unacceptable".
Haze from forest and land fires in Indonesia has blanketed parts of Malaysia and Singapore, causing unhealthy air quality and school closures in several states.
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