KUALA LUMPUR: The government has done its best to tackle the transboundary haze affecting Malaysia, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim amid criticism of Putrajaya’s approach in dealing with Indonesia over the issue.
“We have done our best,” he briefly told reporters after launching the Universiti Malaya Student Residency Project at the university’s Fifth Residential College.
He was responding to former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who said on his Keluar Sekejap podcast that Malaysia has been “too soft” in dealing with Indonesia over the haze.
Khairy called for a firmer stance but acknowledged that diplomacy remained necessary.
Forest and land fires in Indonesia have blanketed neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore in haze in recent weeks, causing a spike in respiratory conditions and prompting school closures in parts of Malaysia.
Foreign minister Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia was expected to raise the issue of transboundary haze at next month’s Asean foreign ministers' meeting in Manila.
Natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Arthur Joseph Kurup had said any proposed law on transboundary haze must consider its effectiveness, diplomatic implications, burden of proof and enforceability.
He said efforts to tackle the issue were becoming more challenging because of climate variability, prolonged dry spells and farming practices.