Indonesian Forest Fires: Report Linking JCorp To Incidents Unfounded – Onn Hafiz

JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- Reports linking Johor Corporation (JCorp) to forest fires in Indonesia are false and unfounded, said Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi. 

Onn Hafiz said no party should take advantage of the situation by distorting facts and creating the perception that the state-owned investment institution was involved in the incident. 

He said all parties had the right to demand transparency and accountability, but such demands must be based on facts and credible evidence. 

Onn Hafiz, who is also JCorp chairman, said the state government would continue to defend JCorp’s integrity, credibility and reputation against unfounded allegations. 

“Claims linking JCorp to the ownership or current operation of the companies concerned, as well as to the forest fires, are false and misleading,” he said in a statement. 

He said JCorp had also clarified in an official statement that companies within its group did not own or operate any plantations outside Malaysia. 

He said Kulim (Malaysia) Berhad, through its subsidiary, had divested its interests in five plantation companies in Indonesia in 2007 and disposed of its entire equity interests in two other Indonesian companies on July 6, 2023. 

Yesterday, JCorp issued a statement denying claims linking it to Indonesian plantation companies allegedly associated with forest and land fires, following a report published by non-governmental organisation (NGO) Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia (WALHI). 

JCorp clarified that it did not own or operate any plantations outside Malaysia. 

WALHI recently alleged that 21 companies linked to Malaysian business entities were allegedly involved in forest and land fires in Indonesia between January and September this year. 

The findings were disclosed in a report titled ‘Actor Mapping Analysis: Who Are Behind the Fires?’, published by the organisation’s National Executive. 

-- BERNAMA