Instead, they have resorted to chipping these oil palm trees, said Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) chief executive Nageeb Wahab.

He said companies like Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, Sime Darby Plantation Bhd (SDP) and Genting Plantations Bhd had adopted the alternative method long before RSPO was established.

“Instead of burning them, they chip the trees and spread it out so it becomes biomass (fertiliser).

“They have been practising this since 1985 when industry players discovered the technique,” he said in response to a statement that Indonesia had identified six Malaysian-linked companies operating estates in the republic that were among the 56 firms responsible for the open burning that caused the haze regionally.

The companies are PT Ichtiar Gusti Pudi, PT Menteng Jaya Sawit Perdana and PT Adei Plantation and Industries, PT Sime Indo Agro, PT Rafi Kamajaya Abadi and PT Kebun Ganda Prima, which are all linked to Malaysian plantation companies.

Naqeeb said for some estates, the fire spread into their plantations but they had managed to bring it under control rather quickly, except for TDM Plantation Sdn Bhd, which has bigger plantations.

Malaysian oil palm companies refuted the allegation levelled against them, with some saying the recent fires happened outside their operational areas.

SDP, for example, said that the fire occurred on land occupied by local communities while IOI Corporation Bhd reported that it had put in place a surveillance system and dedicated resources to put out fires within its boundaries.

“These companies are ready with equipment to help.

“Most of our members have these facilities,” said Naqeeb, adding that Malaysia and Indonesia should work together to overcome the issue as oil palm plantations were not the sole cause of open burning and the haze.

MPOA represents 118 plantation companies, which account for 1.87 million hectares or 40% of the total land under oil palm cultivation in the country.