KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia's State of Sarawak is looking at penalizing its companies in Indonesia involved in open burning, after a blanket of smoke enveloped the region recently, a news report said Monday.

Sarawak Environment and Public Health Minister William Mawan Ikam said the state government is looking at existing laws to ascertain whether it can take legal action against Malaysian companies in Indonesia, the Bernama News Agency reported.

"Stern action has to be taken against these companies in order to make them more responsible corporate citizens. The unprecedented haze episode in Sarawak in September 1997 until early 1998 was a painful experience to most of us Sarawakians," William said.

He said his office had received some information that a number of Malaysian companies are involved in open burning activities, which have resulted in the haze, DPA reported. "Our neighbor (Indonesia) does not have the kind of legal framework similar to the ones we have here. We need to outline something to restrict open burning activities in Indonesia and stopping Malaysian companies from further taking advantage of the situation."

He added authorities are investigating six plantation firms in the state for open burning offences this year.