KUALA LUMPUR: An opposition member of parliament has delivered an appeal in Javanese, hoping his message urging Indonesia to tackle forest and land fires that cause haze in Malaysia will reach the country's leadership.
Kalam Salan (Bersatu-Sabak Bernam) urged Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to take immediate action to extinguish the fires, prevent further outbreaks and ensure the problem does not recur every year.
"We want clear skies and clean air, so that the people of both countries can live healthily and peacefully.
"Perhaps the leaders on the other side, most of whom are Javanese, do not understand Malay.
"With the permission of this Honourable House, let me speak in Javanese," he said before delivering his appeal in the language.
Earlier, Kalam urged the government to use diplomatic channels to press the Philippines, the current Asean chair, to take stronger and more effective regional action to address transboundary haze.
He acknowledged that the government had already implemented some of the measures he proposed, but said Malaysians continued to bear the brunt of haze drifting from Indonesia.
"The people struggle to breathe, suffer from itchy throats and coughing, and experience worsening asthma and other health problems.
"Schools are forced to close, tourism is affected, and plantation work cannot be carried out."
He said the haze affected not only Malaysians but also Indonesians working on Malaysian plantations.
"When they cannot work, they do not receive their wages and cannot send money to their families back home in Indonesia.
"This issue should not be treated as a joke by claiming that Indonesia's forests have been supplying oxygen to Malaysia all this time.
"Are the trees in Malaysia made of plastic? Can they not produce oxygen?" he asked.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd