11 hrs ago
Malaysia Seeks Indonesia’s Help as Haze Chokes Kuala Lumpur
Smoke from wildfires in Indonesia has spread to Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia.
The haze made the air in Kuala Lumpur very unhealthy on Thursday.
Malaysia’s prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, spoke with Indonesia’s president, Prabowo Subianto, about responding to the problem.
Anwar said Prabowo agreed to take necessary steps, but did not explain what they would be.
Schools in Johor were closed for the rest of the week, affecting about 617,000 students.
The haze also reduced visibility enough to disrupt flights.
Malaysia wants to discuss sending a team to help fight the fires and bring regional environment ministers together.
Environmental groups are also asking for stronger laws to investigate and act against companies linked to pollution across borders.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he contacted Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto about tackling haze from wildfires.
Kuala Lumpur’s air quality was rated “very unhealthy” Thursday afternoon, and IQAir ranked it the world’s most polluted city.
Johor closed schools through the end of the week, affecting about 617,000 students.
Malaysia is seeking talks with Indonesia to send a firefighting team and is pursuing a meeting of regional environment ministers.
Haze disrupted flights at Senai International Airport, while Greenpeace Malaysia and civil-society groups called for stronger enforcement laws.
- Who
- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, with people and institutions affected by haze.
- What
- Malaysia contacted Indonesia about wildfire smoke and is seeking regional cooperation to address the haze.
- Where
- Kuala Lumpur, Johor and other parts of Malaysia, with fires in neighboring Indonesia.
- When
- Anwar’s contact was reported Thursday; haze has blanketed parts of Southeast Asia for over a month.
- Why
- Wildfires in Indonesia have produced smoke that has spread across the region, worsening air quality and disrupting daily activities.
Domestic enforcement
Regional cooperation
How to address cross-border haze
Domestic enforcement
Greenpeace Malaysia and civil-society groups called for legislation giving authorities clearer powers to investigate, obtain evidence and enforce action against companies linked to transboundary environmental damage.
Regional cooperation
Greenpeace Malaysia said domestic laws alone cannot solve every regional challenge and should be complemented by Asean mechanisms and bilateral channels for obtaining evidence about fires.
Accountability and support
Domestic enforcement
Joseph D’Cruz of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil said those responsible should be held accountable.
Regional cooperation
D’Cruz also said efforts should recognize and support those working to protect forests and farmlands.
Key facts
- Kuala Lumpur air quality
- Rated “very unhealthy” Thursday afternoon; IQAir ranked the city as the world’s most polluted at that time.
- Johor school closures
- Schools were closed through the end of the week, affecting about 617,000 students.
- Flight disruption
- At least five flights were disrupted at Senai International Airport early Thursday.
- Regional haze duration
- Parts of Southeast Asia had been blanketed in fumes for over a month.
- Malaysia’s proposed response
- Malaysia is seeking expedited talks with Indonesia to send a team to help extinguish fires and is seeking a regional environment ministers’ meeting.
- Domestic measures
- Malaysia has increased cloud seeding to reduce the haze’s impact.
- Reported causes
- The fires are linked to long-running slash-and-burn farming practices and dry conditions associated with a powerful El Niño.
Quotes
Onn Hafiz Ghazi
Johor chief minister, writing in a Facebook post
“Public anger on haze needs to bring about a twofold response: holding to account those who are culpable while recognizing and supporting those who are doing their utmost to protect the forests and farmlands at risk”
livemint.com
“needs to play a more active role and hold an emergency meeting to address this crisis collectively”
livemint.com
Sources
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