This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on September 18, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: TDM Bhd has confirmed that Indonesian authorities had sealed off its subsidiary’s plantation land in the republic due to fires.

TDM said some 1,201ha belonging to PT Rafi Kamajaya Abadi Tbk (PTRKA) had been affected by the fires.

It said the affected areas are known as North 2 Estate at NB2 — Tapang Ria, NB3 — Kemantan, NB7 — Kancing, and NB8 — Kayan.

TDM said the fires had been extinguished.

The group said the sealing off of the affected areas is a normal procedure by the Indonesian authorities to ensure the affected areas are secured and investigation can be carried out accordingly.

TDM said since the beginning of the dry weather in early August, PTRKA has been on high alert and has put in place measures to manage and control fire incidents in the operating areas.

It said these include maintaining equipped firefighting teams to deal with the dry weather, strong wind and the risk of fire.

“Over the last couple of weeks, PTRKA has been able to contain fires that have occurred in the areas.

“Reports to local authorities, including a police report, had been made on fire incidences,” it said.

TDM said PTRKA has been working and will continue to work closely with local authorities, fire brigade and villagers in monitoring hot spots and joint operations for fire-prevention and fire-fighting purposes.

PTRKA has allocated resources, including equipment and personnel, for surveillance and extinguishing of fires.

“TDM practises the RSPO principles and is strictly governed by the ‘no burning’ policy that there shall be no use of fire in the preparation of new planting, replanting or any other developments.

“We wish to reiterate that since 2016, there is neither new development nor land clearing activities [that have] been carried out within our area of operation,” it said.