But overnight rain eased the problem in the haze-bound Riau and pollution was lower yesterday, Indonesian officials said. Still, they warned against complacency. The air in Pekanbaru improved after the rain, but the air pollution index remained above 200. Widespread fires in 1997 in Sumatra and Kalimantan caused thick smoke to engulf Singapore and parts of Malaysia, causing health problems and damaging the tourism industry. The Forestry and Plantations Ministry said investigators had found a major fire at a palm plantation owned by a Malaysian company.
Environmentalists say the laws to punish errant plantation firms are ineffective.
Hopefully, the company that we suspect can be punished. Other laws are too general. Despite the haze, few residents in the area wear face masks. Locals said the smoke was nothing to worry about. We've had this for the past few years now.