KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 —  A Malaysian has been detained for questioning in Riau, Indonesia, on Friday for allegedly starting the forest fire that caused the mid-2013 haze which enveloped the region, media outlets from the republic reported.

According to news site Republika Online the Malaysian, Danesuwaran K. Singam, had been named as one of the suspects in the forest fire case back in October this year.

He was named as a suspect together with Tan Key Yong, both reportedly high-ranking officials at PT Adei Plantation, which is owned by Kuala Lumpur-based Kepong Bhd.

“The suspects are higher-up officials from PT Adei Plantation, which has long been determined as a suspect for the case of forest arson,” Asst Commissioner Guntur Aryo Tejo, a spokesman for the Riau Police Office told reporters.

“Both are considered the persons most responsible for holding key positions in the company.”

The spokesman also informed reporters that the investigation is still ongoing, and more suspects might be questioned.

In June this year, Indonesian Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya had accused Malaysia’s plantation companies of ordering locals to start the forest fires and shifting the blame onto the republic.

He had named eight companies as guilty for the fires: PT Langgam Inti Hiberida, PT Bumi Rakksa Sejati, PT Tunggal Mitra Plantation, PT Udaya Loh Jinawi, PT Adei Plantation, PT Jatim Jaya Perkasa, PT Multi Gambut Industri, and PT Mustika Agro Lestari.

Sime Darby Plantations Bhd, who owns Tunggal Mitra and Bumi Rakksa, has denied any wrongdoing, as has Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, who owns Adei.

Other Malaysian firms involved with the eight companies are Tabung Haji Plantations Bhd, which owns Multi Gambut through its Indonesia-based subsidiary, and Selangor-based Klau River Enterprise Sdn Bhd which owns Langgam Inti. Jatim Jaya is owned by Singapore-listed Wilmar Group, which is involved with Malaysia-based PPB Group Bhd.

In response, The Association of Plantation Investors of Malaysia in Indonesia (APIMI) has stressed that oil palm plantations owned by Malaysian companies do not practise open burning, claiming instead that this was done by local smallholders.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had also said in June that stern action must be taken against those responsible for the current haze crisis regardless of their nationality.