The Star 29 Aug 16;
JOHOR BARU: Johor, which is getting the worst of the haze blown from Sumatra, Indonesia, wants the National Haze Committee to take stern action to put an end to the issue.
State Health and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said the Federal Government should find ways to resolve the issue that has been recurring for years due to open burning.
He suggested suing those responsible for the opening burning because the pollution not only affected people’s health but caused cross-border problems.
He said that if Indonesia could seize and sink the boats of Malaysian fishermen for encroaching its waters, “then our country should start taking strict action”.
Ayub was speaking to reporters after attending the Johor Basic Sustainability workshop yesterday.
“The haze is not a new issue and action should be taken against the neighbouring country since it forces our people to live with unhealthy air,” he said.
He said the haze had affected parts of Johor three years in a row.
“As we all know, haze can cause coughs, sore eyes, asthma or worse, lung disease,” he said, adding that those affected should seek immediate treatment.
The Air Pollutant Index (API) hit 103 in Pasir Gudang on Saturday, breaching into unhealthy levels.
As at 3pm yesterday, Muar recorded an API of 78; it was 71 in Kota Tinggi and 73 in both Pasir Gudang and Larkin Lama.
