Anwar: Asean haze mechanism needs stronger action, Malaysia won’t shield firms

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the current Asean mechanism to address transboundary haze requires improvement due to its impact on public health.

Anwar highlighted the need for Asean ministers to reassess the effectiveness of regional mechanisms as haze continues to affect neighbouring countries.

Anwar stated that Malaysia will not shield its companies if Indonesia takes action against them for being involved in forest fires.

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 8 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said there was room to improve the existing Asean mechanism for tackling transboundary haze.

He stressed that the issue required more serious attention given its impact on public health.

“There is room for improvement.

“I think the Asean ministers must seriously look at it because this is affecting lives, particularly children and babies,” he told reporters when met at the Plantation and Commodities Ministry monthly assembly here today.

Anwar was responding to questions on whether the current Asean mechanism on transboundary haze was sufficient and whether stronger enforcement was needed.

He said the recurring impact of haze on neighbouring countries showed the need to assess whether existing regional mechanisms were sufficiently effective.

“The Asean ministers have to seriously look at this,” he said.

When asked on action taken against alleged perpetrators, Anwar said those were merely allegations as fires detected were mainly forest fires.

“Most of the fires that we detected were forest fires,” he said.

Anwar acknowledged that Malaysia had companies operating in Indonesia and would allow Indonesian authorities to take action if Malaysian firms were found to be involved.

“If there are Malaysian companies involved, we give room for Indonesia to take action.

“We certainly will not defend them,” he said.

Anwar’s remarks come as the region continues to grapple with the recurring problem of transboundary haze, which can affect air quality and public health across national borders.

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安瓦尔·易卜拉欣总理表示，鉴于跨境雾霾对公众健康的影响，目前东盟应对跨境雾霾的机制需要改进。

安瓦尔强调，由于雾霾持续影响邻国，东盟部长们有必要重新评估区域机制的有效性。

安华表示，如果印尼政府因马来西亚公司卷入森林火灾而对其采取行动，马来西亚不会包庇这些公司。

布城，9月8日——首相拿督斯里安华·易卜拉欣今天表示，现有的东盟应对跨境烟霾机制还有改进的空间。

他强调，鉴于该问题对公众健康的影响，需要更加认真地对待。

“还有改进的空间。”

“我认为东盟部长们必须认真考虑这个问题，因为这会影响人们的生活，特别是儿童和婴儿的生活，”他今天在种植园和商品部月度会议上对记者说。

安瓦尔是在回应有关东盟目前跨境雾霾机制是否足够以及是否需要加强执法力度的问题时做出上述表态的。

他表示，雾霾对邻国的反复影响表明，有必要评估现有的区域机制是否足够有效。

他说：“东盟部长们必须认真考虑这个问题。”

当被问及对涉嫌肇事者采取的行动时，安华表示，这些只是指控，因为检测到的火灾主要是森林火灾。

他说：“我们发现的大部分火灾都是森林火灾。”

安华承认马来西亚有公司在印度尼西亚开展业务，并表示如果发现马来西亚公司涉案，将允许印度尼西亚当局采取行动。

“如果牵涉到马来西亚公司，我们会给印尼采取行动的空间。”

“我们当然不会为他们辩护，”他说。

安华发表这番言论之际，该地区仍在努力应对反复出现的跨境雾霾问题，这个问题会影响跨越国界的空气质量和公众健康。

霹雳州卫生行政议员表示，提前到达医院的人员加剧了医院的拥堵。

安华警告各部委不要采取空白支票的做法，与此同时，马来西亚正努力应对补贴负担。

安华要求政府支出产生切实的影响。