Malaysian investors in the Indonesian oil palm plantation sector

What is it about?

This paper argues that these Malaysian investors have been able to burn with impunity, despite the dire consequences of haze on their home country, because of the close patronage relationships and vested interests of the Malaysian government elites in these companies. Because of this, the home government is inclined to protect and defend the actions of these firms in Indonesia against such allegations, while the Malaysian public continues to suffer the haze.

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Why is it important?

The findings of this paper have significant implications to the development of patronage politics as a theoretical framework. As observed in this paper, the maintenance of these cross-border patronage linkages can prove useful to both the patron and client, just as it would within the confines of the home state.