The Star 4 Oct 15;
MILAN: The Indonesian government needs to take action against parties causing the haze problem which has not only affected the air quality of Malaysia, but its economy as well, says Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (pic).
The Prime Minister said only Indonesia could take action against them to ensure and prove if the haze was due to irresponsible plantation companies carrying out open burning or due to the effects of weather changes.
"They are operating there, we want Indonesia to take action. Summoning them is one thing, but proving they conducted such acts is another matter.
"Only Indonesia alone can gather evidence and convict the companies concerned.
"It should also be determined if the cause of the fires are deliberate or due to weather conditions," he said when asked on the worsening haze situation.
He told this to Malaysian journalists before leaving for home after a three-day working visit to Milan since Friday. Najib said the solution to the haze problem needed the close cooperation of Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore to formulate more effective measures.
"It will take into consideration the agreement signed by the three countries to combat haze.
"Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia are still working on interpreting the agreement into a suitable form of action to ensure the situation does not recur," he said. - Bernama
Indonesia should pay for losses incurred in latest haze episode
PRIYA PUBALAN New Straits Times 4 Oct 15;
GEORGE TOWN: Indonesia should compensate for losses incurred from the worsening haze in the country.
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development minister Senator Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said this, adding that this was the morally right thing to do.
"Hawkers are selling 30 per cent lesser; people are missing their flights, schoolchildren skipping school.
It is high time we get compensated.
"I understand the hardship that many are going through in these trying times," she said after officiating the Penang MCA Mid-Autumn Festival gathering at Jalan Transfer here today. Chew said she, too, was a victim of the haze as she had missed two flights this morning.
"I was supposed to be in Perlis and Kedah, but all flights were cancelled due to haze," she added.
DPM: Malaysia urges Indonesia for stronger measures to solve haze
ROZANNA LATIFF New Straits Times 4 Oct 15;
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has called for stronger measures from Indonesia to solve the haze problem, saying that the current plans in place will take too long to be effective.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malaysia welcomed the commitment shown by Indonesian president Joko Widodo to strengthen enforcement and fire-prevention measures, but lamented that the plans would take at least three years to see results.
“We are grateful for the measures, but we think it will take too long.
Every day, there is still open burning being carried out by farmers in Indonesia,” he said. He was responding to a BBC interview on Sept 29, in which Joko called for countries to give Indonesia time to tackle forest fires.
Zahid said steps were being undertaken by both countries to fight the haze, including legal action against companies responsible for carrying out harmful practices which contributed to forest fires.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tunku Jaafar had also been sent to negotiate with his Indonesian counterparts on the steps to be taken, Zahid said. “We know that there are measures being taken but it is not enough. This happens every year.
Already, we are spending too much on medical expenses, especially for those with problems such as asthma,” he said. Zahid was speaking at the launch of ‘U-Turn’, a magazine talkshow by TV AlHijrah and the Home Ministry focusing on the spiritual rehabilitation of inmates in the Prisons Department parole programme.
Bomba Malaysia prepared to assist Indonesia put out forest fire
The Star 4 Oct 15;
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department is prepared to assist Indonesia in putting out forest fires in that country which has been the main cause for the cross-border haze in the country currently.
Its director-general, Datuk Wan Mohd Noor Ibrahim (pic) said on Sunday that the department was willing to offer aid if they (Indonesia) needed external support including from Malaysia to help in tackling the haze problem which was becoming critical lately.
"Usually, when a foreign country requests for help from our country to resolve a disaster, they will certainly contact our Government beforehand.
"As such, we are prepared to help if the situation warrants, but it depends on the government itself because it will decide whether to send the fire personnel to join the mission to put out the forest fire in Indonesia," he said when contacted by Bernama.
He said the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department had the complete assets and skills needed if the department was chosen to carry out the mission to put out the forest fires in Sumatera and Kalimantan.
"Forest fires are different from the normal fires because the forest is very big...it demands the security agencies to deploy all assets available to put out the fire because the operation is most challenging.
"In addition, the operation also needs the services of many personnel because it covers a very large area," he said.
As at 9am today, air quality in most areas throughout the country deteriorated with several areas in the Klang Valley recording unhealthy air pollutant index (API) readings and one area posted a dangerous level with the API in Shah Alam at 308.
On Saturday Science, Technology and Innovations Minister Datuk Madius Tangau said in a statement that the severe haze affecting the country since the middle of last month would ease briefly from Oct 6 to 9.
However, he said the haze would return on Oct 10 following a tropical storm forecasted in eastern Philippines if the fires in Sumatera and Kalimantan were not extinguished.
Commenting further on the haze situation which was of greater concern now, Wan Mohd Noor advised the people to stop any open burning activity to prevent the haze from becoming worse. - Bernama
