Health select committee taking haze concerns to Indonesian Embassy

The Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Health will present a memorandum to the Indonesian Embassy about the haze affecting various aspects like environment, health, and diplomatic relations.

Khoo Poay Tiong highlighted a Greenpeace report naming companies involved in Indonesian forest fires, urging the Malaysian government to take action similar to Singapore's approach.

Vivian Wong calls for a long-term Trap-Neuter-Release programme to manage stray animals, avoiding conflicts and reducing the population ethically.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Health (JKPK) will submit a memorandum regarding the cross-border haze issue to the Indonesian Embassy today.

Its chairman, Suhaizan Kaiat (PH-Pulai), said that the haze issue poses problems for the country across various aspects, such as the environment, public health, citizen safety, the national economy, and diplomatic relations between neighbouring countries.

"God willing, tomorrow morning the JKPK and its members will submit a memorandum to the Indonesian Embassy regarding this haze issue," he said while taking part in the debate on the Supply Bill (Budget) 2027 at the policy stage in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Meanwhile, Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) urged the government to take firm action against local companies allegedly involved in forest fires in Indonesia that caused the cross-border haze.

He said this follows a recent Greenpeace report naming 20 companies believed to be involved, including a leading national plantation company through its subsidiary registered in the neighbouring country.

"KLCC has now become 'KL Cannot See' because of the haze. In previous Special Chamber debates, the ministry informed that there was no information regarding the involvement of local companies.

"However, through this Greenpeace report, it is proven that there are local subsidiaries involved. We hope the ministry will not sit idly by and will take serious follow-up steps," he said.

Therefore, Khoo suggested that Malaysia follow the firm action of the Singaporean government in issuing warning notices to 10 companies believed to have links to the forest fire incidents in Indonesia.

Vivian Wong Shir Yee (PH-Sandakan) urged the government to provide a specific allocation for the long-term implementation of the Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) method to address the stray animal issue nationwide, thereby breaking the cycle of conflict between the public, local authorities (PBT), and animal lovers following capture operations.

"When we lack a long-term system, every capture operation risks becoming a conflict, whether between animal lovers and the authorities or neighbour against neighbour. In the end, no one wins. Animals suffer, personnel are criticised, and public trust is eroded," she said.

According to Wong, a continuous TNR programme can gradually and ethically reduce the stray animal population without having to wait for tragedies to repeat.

The issue of the Flying Doctor Service (FDS) was also raised during the debate, with Rodiyah Sapiee (GPS-Batang Sadong) asking the government to provide comprehensive insurance protection, including death and permanent disability compensation, as well as the welfare of health personnel involved in the FDS.

"I welcome the increase in the FDS health service incentive from RM30 to RM100. However, taking into account the risks faced by health personnel in the interior as well as lessons learned from the recent FDS helicopter crash incident, the government must ensure comprehensive protection," she said.

Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy (BN-Kalabakan) raised the issue that 36 per cent, or 382 out of 1,055 medical officers offered permanent placements in Sabah and Sarawak this year, failed to report for duty, and suggested that the government review the Regional Incentive Payment (BIW) rate, which is currently set at RM360 per month.

"The BIW should be reverted to a percentage-based calculation system of salary as before, or a reasonable minimum rate set for officers serving in the interior of Sabah and Sarawak.

"Additionally, a special quota of 30 percent for students from Sabah and Sarawak in medical fields at public universities should be established," he said.

The Dewan Rakyat sitting continues tomorrow. — Bernama

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议会卫生特别遴选委员会将向印度尼西亚大使馆提交一份备忘录，阐述雾霾对环境、健康和外交关系等各个方面的影响。

邱培忠强调了绿色和平组织的一份报告，该报告点名了参与印尼森林火灾的公司，敦促马来西亚政府采取与新加坡类似的行动。

黄慧敏呼吁实施长期的诱捕-绝育-放归计划来管理流浪动物，避免冲突，并以合乎道德的方式减少动物数量。

吉隆坡，10月21日讯——国会卫生特别遴选委员会（JKPK）将于今日向印度尼西亚大使馆提交一份关于跨境雾霾问题的备忘录。

其主席苏海赞·凯亚特（PH-Pulai）表示，雾霾问题给国家在环境、公共卫生、公民安全、国民经济以及与邻国的外交关系等各个方面都带来了问题。

“如果上帝保佑，明天上午，JKPK及其成员将向印度尼西亚大使馆提交一份关于雾霾问题的备忘录，”他在今天国会下议院政策阶段参加2027年供应法案（预算）辩论时说道。

与此同时，邱培忠（希望联盟-马六甲）敦促政府对涉嫌参与印尼森林火灾并导致跨境烟霾的当地公司采取坚决行动。

他表示，此前绿色和平组织发布了一份报告，列出了 20 家涉案公司，其中包括一家领先的全国性种植园公司，该公司通过其在邻国注册的子公司进行活动。

“由于雾霾，吉隆坡城中城现在变成了‘看不见的吉隆坡’。在之前的特别法庭辩论中，该部门表示没有关于本地公司参与其中的信息。”

“然而，绿色和平组织的这份报告证实，确实有当地子公司参与其中。我们希望相关部门不要袖手旁观，而是采取切实有效的后续措施。”他说道。

因此，邱建议马来西亚效仿新加坡政府的强硬措施，向10家被认为与印度尼西亚森林火灾事件有关的公司发出警告通知。

黄诗怡（希望联盟-山打根）敦促政府拨出专项资金，长期实施诱捕-绝育-放归（TNR）方法，以解决全国范围内的流浪动物问题，从而打破捕捉行动后公众、地方当局（PBT）和动物爱好者之间的冲突循环。

“如果我们缺乏长期有效的机制，每一次捕杀行动都有可能演变成冲突，无论是动物爱好者与当局之间的冲突，还是邻里之间的冲突。最终，没有人是赢家。动物遭受痛苦，工作人员受到批评，公众信任度也受到损害，”她说道。

黄认为，持续开展TNR（诱捕、绝育、放归）计划可以逐步且合乎伦理地减少流浪动物的数量，而无需等到悲剧重演。

在辩论中，飞行医生服务 (FDS) 的问题也被提出，Rodiyah Sapiee（GPS-Batang Sadong）要求政府提供全面的保险保障，包括死亡和永久性残疾赔偿，以及参与 FDS 的医务人员的福利。

“我欢迎政府将FDS医疗服务津贴从30令吉提高到100令吉。但是，考虑到内陆地区医务人员面临的风险，以及从最近FDS直升机坠毁事故中吸取的教训，政府必须确保提供全面的保护，”她说。

拿督安迪·穆罕默德·苏里亚迪·班迪（国阵-卡拉巴干）提​​出，今年在沙巴和砂拉越获得永久职位的1055名医务人员中，有36%（即382人）未能到岗，并建议政府审查目前每月360令吉的区域奖励金（BIW）标准。

“BIW 应该恢复以前按百分比计算工资的制度，或者为在沙巴和砂拉越内陆地区服务的官员设定合理的最低工资标准。

“此外，应该在公立大学的医学专业中为沙巴和砂拉越的学生设立30%的特殊名额，”他说道。

下议院会议明天继续进行。 — 马新社

新的大马卡安全功能、跨界雾霾措施是下议院的主题

部长称，新的朝觐计划可以将等待时间缩短至70年以下。

马来西亚雾霾：22个地区空气质量仍处于“不健康”水平