Putrajaya working on Bill against companies responsible for haze

KUALA LUMPUR/JAKARTA — The Malaysian government may enact a law to deal with companies domestically as well as those based overseas responsible for causing the haze, local media reported today (Oct 6).

“At the moment, we cannot take action against Indonesian companies as we do not have transborder laws like in Singapore,” said Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, yesterday.

He was referring to Singapore’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, which allows entities causing or contributing to unhealthy levels of haze in Singapore to be fined up to S$2 million.

To date, Singapore’s National ­Environment Agency has issued preventive measures notices to five ­Indonesian companies that are suspected to be causing the haze, putting into ­action powers available under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act for the first time since it was passed last year.

The ­notices require the firms to ­deploy firefighting personnel to extinguish or prevent the spread of any fire on land owned or occupied by them, and to discontinue any burning activities on such land, among other things.

Dr Wan Junaidi added that the Bill, which is still in the works, would give the government power to act ­beyond Malaysian borders, reported Utusan Malaysia, a newspaper owned by ruling United Malays National Organisation, today.

The newspaper also ­reported that the minister urged Indonesia to implement stricter laws to tackle the haze problem.

Yesterday, Deputy Tourism and Culture Minister Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, told reporters that the haze has affected tourist arrivals to Malaysia, and that the ministry was working on initiatives and strategies to attract foreign tourists.

Meanwhile, in a reflection of the spiralling cost needed to combat the forest fires behind the haze blanketing the region, Indonesian authorities also announced yesterday that 500 billion rupiah (S$50.2 million) has been spent on firefighting efforts so far.

According to a spokesman for ­Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency, Sutopo ­Purwo ­Nugro­ho, the agency had earlier ­estimated that the haze mitigation ­efforts would cost 385 billion rupiah, but with the deployment of additional manpower, the costs could continue to rise ­beyond the 500 billion rupiah that has already been spent.

Mr Sutopo added that despite firefighting efforts, the forest fires have showed no signs of abating.

At the same time, Indonesian health authorities announced today that more than 300,000 cases of haze-related respiratory illnesses have been recorded since the dry season began in June.

“The average number of patients seeking treatment at health facilities has risen by 15 to 20 per cent in the last three weeks. The conditions will (continue to) worsen if the haze (isn’t ­extinguished) soon,” Indonesian Health Minister Nila Moeloek told ­reporters at a press conference today.

Health officials also said that South Sumatra has the highest level of air pollution, with the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reaching a staggering 880 today, which is considered hazardous. AGENCIES