Malaysia drafts haze related laws - Wan Junaidi

Laws relating to transboundary haze is being drawn up that will enable the government to take firm action against anyone involved, including foreign companies.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the proposed laws differed from Singaporean laws that allowed action to be taken only against Singaporean companies.

"Singapore recently gazetted the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act adopted this year allow them to take action such as summons on their own companies that caused haze.

"If (we have) jurisdiction through laws being drafted we can take action against all parties, whether they are from Malaysia, Indonesia or Singapore," he told reporters after the ministry's monthly gathering at Dewan Perdana Felda here today.

Wan Junaidi urged Indonesia to immediately enforce stringent laws on those involved in the forest fires that caused the haze.

"I have informed the Prime Minister on the haze situation in the country and hope he will contact his counterpart in Indonesia soon," he said.