Malaysia and Indonesia to sign MoU to tackle transboundary haze

Malaysia and Indonesia will be sharing experience, expertise and information on strategies to tackle the imminent transboundary haze when the two neighbouring countries sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the matter soon.

Department of Environment (DOE) director-general Datuk Halimah Hassan said both countries were in the process of drafting a MoU but could not confirm when it would be signed.

"The focus of the MoU will be on the prevention of open burning and forest fires," she told reporters after officiating at the state-level Malaysian Environment Week (MASM) and Environmental Quality (Air) Regulations Seminar 2014 here Thursday.

She said the Malaysian government had always asked the Indonesian government to take proactive and effective approach on how to tackle open burning which had contributed to haze problems in Malaysia.

The cause of the pollution was the slash-and-burn clearing of forests in Indonesia to prepare land for planting of crops, particularly oil palm in Kalimantan.

The cause of the pollution was the 'slash-and-burn' clearing of forests in Indonesia to prepare land for planting of crops particularly oil palm in Kalimantan.

Halimah said the MoU between Malaysia and Indonesia was different from the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution ratified by Indonesia recently.

On pollution problem in the country, she said DOE had directed its enforcement officers to take consistent, transparent and stern action against those causing pollution.

“We want industries to adhere strictly to the standards set in safeguarding our environment,” she said.