Malaysia to ink new MoU with Indonesia to tackle haze

MARTIN CARVALHO The Star 13 Nov 14;

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indonesia to implement measures to curb peat soil fires that have contributed to trans-border haze.

Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos Mamit said the initiative was aimed at assisting the country’s Indonesian counterparts in Riau, Sumatra in preventing peat fire outbreaks during the annual dry season.

"The time frame under the present MoU will end this year and we will be signing a new agreement soon.

"I will personally travel to Sumatra for the purpose and also to evaluate peat conditions there," he said in answer to a question by Dr Michael Jayekumar Devaraj (PSM-Sungai Siput) in the Dewan Rakyat, Thursday.

Dawos said that outbreaks of peat soil fires, particularly in the Riau province, were common during the dry spell owing to ground surface water loss.

He said that extensive peat soil studies done in Sarawak three years ago would also provided Indonesia with better know-how on dealing with the problem more effectively.

"As a preventive measure, we have helped authorities in Riau to build 10 check dams aimed at maintain ground surface water for peat soil," he added.

He said there are plans to assist Indonesia in tackling the haze problem under the proposed MoU.

Earlier this year, fires razed some 21,000ha of dried peat land swamps in Riau with 1,243 hot spots detected at the height of the fires on March 2.


MoU with Indonesia on peat fires to be renewed
YUEN MEIKENG, MARTIN CARVALHO, AND LOSHANA K. SHAGAR The Star 14 Nov 14;

MALAYSIA is set to renew a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indonesia soon to enforce measures to curb peat soil fires that contribute to trans-border haze.

“The timeframe under the present MoU will end this year and we will be signing a new agreement soon,” Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos Mamit said.

He said there were plans to help Indonesia tackle the haze problem under the coming MoU.

“I will travel to Sumatra for this purpose and also to evaluate peat conditions there,” he said when questioned by Dr Michael Jayekumar Devaraj (PSM-Sungai Siput).

He said outbreaks of peat soil fires, particularly in the Riau province, were common during the dry spell due to ground surface water loss.

He added that extensive peat soil studies done in Sarawak three years ago would provide Indonesia with better know-how in dealing more effectively with the problem.