Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said Thursday the government will revoke the business licences of foreign-owned companies found to have violated regulations and contributed to forest and land fires.

Mr Prabowo said authorities were investigating companies suspected of violating land management and fire prevention regulations, with preliminary findings indicating repeated violations by some firms.

He said one company was suspected of involvement in as many as 19 forest fire cases.

“Whoever violates the rules, just revoke their licences! I have no hesitation,” Mr Prabowo said.

The president said some of the companies under investigation were foreign-owned, adding that the government would disclose their names in due course.

He stressed that companies operating in Indonesia must be held accountable for environmental damage regardless of their country of origin.

Mr Prabowo also called for tighter oversight of natural resource management to ensure that forests and plantations are managed responsibly and benefit local communities.

 (Xinhua/NAN)