JAKARTA: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has vowed to revoke the business licences of foreign-owned companies found to have repeatedly violated regulations and contributed to forest and land fires.
Prabowo said authorities were investigating companies suspected of breaching land management and fire prevention regulations, with preliminary findings pointing to repeated violations by some firms.
One company was suspected of being involved in as many as 19 forest fire cases, he said.
"Whoever violates the rules, just revoke their licences! I have no hesitation," Prabowo said, adding that the government would disclose their names in due course.
He said companies operating in Indonesia must be held accountable for environmental damage regardless of their country of origin.
Prabowo also called for tighter oversight of natural resource management to ensure that forests and plantations are managed responsibly and benefit local communities.
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