Vinoth Monn Baskaran urges Malaysia to take firmer legal and diplomatic action against recurring transboundary haze and strengthen enforcement of ASEAN agreements.
THE haze situation in Malaysia has become almost an annual event. We now have three seasons – the dry season (musim kemarau), the wet monsoon season (musin tengkujuh) and the highly detrimental man-made haze season (musim jerebu).
Haze has disrupted the daily lives of Malaysians to such an extent that unhealthy air quality readings have necessitated the closure of schools in certain states.
This man-made calamity stems largely from land clearing and open-burning activities, particularly on peatlands in our neighbouring country, Indonesia, especially in Sumatra and Kalimantan.
The problem can be exacerbated by the El Nino phenomenon, which creates drier conditions conducive to fires. The resulting clouds of smoke, carrying enormous quantities of carbon emissions and other pollutants, drift across the sea, blanketing and choking our country.
Apart from the blinding visibility in affected areas, haze poses serious health risks to Malaysians, particularly older adults and children. It can also aggravate existing respiratory conditions, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
In addition, our nation’s economy suffers considerably from disruptions to business operations and tourism activities.
Malaysia has consistently adopted an accommodating and cordial approach towards its neighbour, with our leaders favouring persuasion and friendly engagements with their Indonesian counterparts in the spirit of ASsean cooperation.
Malaysia has even offered resources and assistance, including deploying personnel to help combat fires at their source. However, many Malaysians have come to feel this goodwill, demonstrated year after year, has not been reciprocated with tangible and lasting results.
Every year, Malaysians are forced to endure this environmental pollution, which poses a serious threat to public health, the environment and the well-being of those in affected areas.
This must not be allowed to continue or accepted as an annual norm, much less institutionalised as yet another “musim jerebu”. The 2002 Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution and the Asean Haze-Free Roadmap 2023 to 2030 must be given meaningful effect through stronger implementation, accountability and enforcement.
Where necessary, the issue should also be addressed through appropriate legal and diplomatic mechanisms.
Decades of friendly engagement, cooperation and persuasion have yet to deliver a lasting solution. It is, therefore, time for Malaysia to consider firmer, lawful and more effective measures to protect its people and environment from recurring transboundary haze pollution.
Vinoth Monn Baskaran
Occupational Health, Safety, Security and Environment Manager
Seremban