New Straits Times 5 Oct 15;
KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesia has turned down Malaysia’s offer to help put out fires in Sumatera and Kalimantan which have been named the main cause of the current cross-border haze.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said his ministry, the Defence Ministry and relevant agencies were prepared to assist Indonesia, but the latter was not receptive to any form of assistance.
“We’re angry and frustrated about this (haze), but there’s nothing much that Malaysia can do as the problem is based (in Indonesia).
“The public must understand that the haze is not caused by us. If it’s an internal issue, we could have detained the offenders and brought them to justice.
“But, we can’t do so with Indonesian companies involved in slash-and-burn and open burning. Even Malaysian-owned companies in Indonesia are subject to their laws,” he told the New Straits Times yesterday.
Wan Junaidi said a number of Malaysian-owned companies had declared that they did not practise slash-and-burn clearing of the jungle, but it was still up to Indonesia to investigate the matter and take action.
“We believe Indonesia is taking action against the people who caused this,” he said.
On Singapore’s move to take legal action against Singapore-owned companies in Indonesia, Wan Junaidi said it was feasible as it was in accordance with its Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014.
He said Malaysia, however, did not have an act to sue the parties responsible for burning activities in Indonesia. However, he said, such an act was still in its proposal stage in the ministry.
Wan Junaidi said the ministry had been requesting for a one-day meeting with Indonesia’s Environment and Forestry Minister, Siti Nurbaya Bakar to, resolve the transboundary haze issue, including discussing details of the Transboundary Haze Act similar to Singapore’s.
“I had requested for a one-day meeting, yet there has not been any reply from Indonesia so far. We can only resolve this if both parties sit together.”
Speaking on environmentalists’ calls for Malaysia’s top leaders to push the Indonesian government to take action against those conducting open burning, Wan Junaidi said: “We can’t make assumptions without knowing if they have or haven’t taken action.
“Indonesia has investigated about 200 companies to date. There is also open burning done by the locals. We’ve been informed that they are stepping up enforcement.
“It doesn’t matter whether its Indonesian, Malaysian or Singaporean companies, Indonesia must take a tough stance against anybody who does it.
“They must have a strong political will to enforce the law,” he said.
All countries involved should help solve haze issue: Dr Subra
PRIYA PUBALAN New Straits Times 5 Oct 15;
BUTTERWORTH: Malaysia needs to make use of its position as the Asean chairman and combat haze issue that hits the country annually the Health Ministry said today.
Its minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said that it is high time for all Asean countries to collaborate and curb the haze issue instead of blaming Indonesia solely but not giving solutions.
"Solutions to curb haze should be the main priority of Asean because not only Malaysia but Brunei, Singapore and other neighbouring countries are affected too.
"The issue had gone worse after schools were ordered for closure affecting the education system of the country," he said today after the state’s AGM 2015 meeting held at The Light Hotel today.
Dr Subramaniam said Indonesia must not be the only country solving the epidemic matter but all countries should involve and help solve the haze crisis.
Meanwhile, in another development, Dr Subramaniam who is also the MIC president, said the party is strongly against any quarters which speaks ill of the demolition of vernacular schools in Malaysia.
He said Tamil schools will never be demolished by the government and it is protected under the Malaysian Constitution.
"MIC will not tolerate with any party which speaks ill or spreading false news about the demolition of vernacular schools.
"MIC is strongly against quarters that spread news about the government's so called intention to abolish tamil schools.
"Please bear in mind that vernacular schools are protected under the Malaysian Constitution and no one, I repeat, no one has the rights to question it," he added today.
Penang MCA Wants Indonesia To Compensate Malaysia
Bernama 4 Oct 15;
GEORGE TOWN, Oct 4 (Bernama) -- Penang MCA has called on the government to ask the Indonesian government to compensate Malaysia for the losses incurred in tackling the haze issue.
Its chairman, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, said this was because Malaysia had been suffering the choking haze each year, which was caused by forest fires in Indonesia.
"It is ridiculous for them not to solve this problem. I think we should ask them to compensate...Children can't go to school and yet you don't have time for them to replace.
"At the same time, nobody will come to visit Malaysia. Our hawkers' businesses have also dropped by 30 per cent. I think medical expenses for most people have also gone up (due to haze)," she told reporters at the Mid-Autumn Gathering here tonight.
Chew, who is also Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister, also advised parents, as well as nursery and kindergarten operators, to limit children's outdoor activities.
-- BERNAMA
