21/7/06 ( NSTP)  - PUTRAJAYA: Plantation owners found guilty of open burning and contributing to the haze will lose their licence to sell oil palm fruit.

Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui said while the main enforcing authority against open burning lies with the National Resources and Environment Ministry, his ministry will also do its part.

"The Malaysian Palm Oil Board will revoke licences of oil palm plantation owners if they are found guilty of contributing to the haze problem.

"Let this be a warning. We are monitoring the plantations in Malaysia closely," he said at a Press conference held here yesterday to update Malaysia- Indonesia co-operation in the commodities sector.

Asked whether any Malaysian companies owning plantations in Indonesia had been found guilty of open burning , Chin said: "Not that I am aware of."

The minister said Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to step up enforcement against open burning in the countries.

"We'll do our part to lessen the impact of haze, and the Indonesian Government will do theirs."

It was reported that fires raging in Johan Setia, Klang and Sungai Belangkan, Sepang have been identified as the cause of haze enveloping areas in Selangor. Open burning on plots of agricultural land had also been discovered.

Meanwhile, in Indonesia, firefighters are battling hundreds of forest fires raging in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Satellite images earlier this week reportedly revealed some 300 "hot spots" in the Riau province, Sumatra.