KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Bernama) — Malaysia must take immediate preventive measures to prepare for a potential transboundary haze crisis following the return of unhealthy air quality in several regions, says Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
He said the deteriorating air quality in parts of Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia should serve as an early warning for the government to adopt a proactive rather than reactive approach.
“We have experienced this problem repeatedly in the past. We should not allow ourselves to be caught unprepared once again.
The present situation in Sarawak is particularly worrying because prolonged hot and dry weather creates conditions in which fires can spread rapidly and smoke can travel across borders,” he said in a statement today.
Earlier today, six schools in Tebedu, Sarawak, were ordered to close after the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading in the area exceeded 200.
To mitigate the risk, Lee proposed a five-point strategy, beginning with the full activation of the National Haze Action Plan whenever early warning indicators showed rising risks.
“We should strengthen the monitoring of hotspots, fire-prone areas, wind direction, and air quality so that action can be taken before the situation deteriorates,” he said.
Lee also urged Malaysia to intensify engagement with Indonesia and other regional neighbours under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, which was ratified by all member states in 2015.
He stressed that while the framework for cooperation existed, there was an urgent need for stronger implementation and faster action on the ground.
He also called for stronger regional accountability, noting that transboundary haze was a public health, economic, and social crisis that caused respiratory problems, school disruptions, and increased healthcare costs.
Meanwhile, Lee reminded the authorities not to overlook local contributors, such as illegal open burning, peat fires, agricultural land clearing and poorly managed land clearing within Malaysia.
“We must put our own house in order while urging our neighbours to do the same,” he said.
Finally, he called for enhanced public preparedness, ensuring schools, hospitals, and workplaces had clear protocols in place, and that the public received timely, accurate information on air quality.
“Most importantly, we must change our mindset. Haze should no longer be treated as an annual seasonal inconvenience. It should be treated as a recurring regional disaster risk that requires year-round prevention, preparedness and cooperation,” he added.
Lee further urged the authorities to make full use of ASEAN’s early-warning system and act on indicators immediately, stressing that prevention was far cheaper than dealing with the consequences after the skies turned grey.
— BERNAMA