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Malaysia should emulate Singapore and take firm stand on haze: M’sian NGO

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia should emulate Singapore’s no nonsense attitude against the recurring haze problem, which was strong and swift, said a Malaysian non-governmental organisation today (July 23).

Malaysia's landmark Putra Perdana, the office of the Prime Minister, is shrouded with smog in Putrajaya, outside Kuala Lumpur July 23, 2013. Photo: Reuters

Malaysia's landmark Putra Perdana, the office of the Prime Minister, is shrouded with smog in Putrajaya, outside Kuala Lumpur July 23, 2013. Photo: Reuters

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KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia should emulate Singapore’s no nonsense attitude against the recurring haze problem, which was strong and swift, said a Malaysian non-governmental organisation today (July 23).

According to Environmental Protection Society of Malaysia (EPSM) president Nithi Nesadurai, Malaysia, unlike Singapore, was very accepting and understanding in its approach, even when the country was hit by very bad haze in past years.

He said that such an attitude did not give Indonesian authorities a sense of urgency to resolve the issue permanently.

Instead, Malaysia should take a firm stand to express its frustrations over the matter, given the country’s good ties with Indonesia, he said.

“It’s not about saying nice things to each other all the time,” said Mr Nithi, who also called for a more proactive instead of reactive stance from Asean nations, reported The Star.

Mr Nithi also felt that the intergovernmental ministerial steering committee meeting should have been held earlier in the year, and not only after the recent haze, adding that prevention was possible.

He noted that Malaysia had clear skies during the 1998 Commonwealth Games as opposed to the bad haze the country experienced in 1997.

“This is the time every year when they start clearing forests. But it’s only when the haze appears that everyone starts running up and down,” said Mr Nithi. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER

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