The government has confirmed that no Malaysian plantation companies are involved in the forest fires in Indonesia that are causing cross-border haze across the region.

Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil said the conclusion was reached after thorough checks by Plantation and Commodities Minister Noraini Ahmad.

“Noraini informed us that cross-checks with Malaysian companies holding palm oil concessions revealed that the burning occurred outside the concessions owned by these Malaysian firms,” Fahmi said during a press conference here today.

He added that the cabinet had also been briefed on the dry spell in the region, particularly in Kalimantan, where there had been generally no rain for over 100 days, or only minimal rainfall when it did rain.