Channel NewsAsia 5 Nov 13;
SINGAPORE: Singapore's and Malaysia's environment ministers have expressed deep concern over the transboundary haze from land and forest fires in Indonesia that recurs every year.
Meeting in Singapore on Tuesday, Singapore's Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Malaysia's Natural Resources and Environment Minister G Palanivel noted that the haze has severely affected the people in both their countries.
They resolved to take actions to enhance regional collaboration to prevent the recurrence of the transboundary haze by implementing the ASEAN leaders' decision made at the 23rd ASEAN Summit in October.
The ministers hope that prompt measures will be taken to detect, prevent and suppress fires, added a statement from Singapore's Ministry of Environment and Water Resources issued on Tuesday.
Meeting in Singapore for the 26th Malaysia-Singapore Annual Exchange of Visits, Dr Balakrishnan and Mr Palanivel welcomed the long-standing and close environmental cooperation between their countries.
Other issues discussed on Tuesday include the control of vehicular pollution, the joint monitoring of water quality in the Straits of Johor, and cooperation in preventing chemical and oil spills.
- CNA/ac
