The annual transboundary haze problem plaguing the country and region may soon be a thing of the past with a bilateral pact that is soon to be signed between Indonesia and Malaysia.

According to the Jakarta Post, officials from both countries are said to be working on the agreement that would focus on better fire prevention and tougher penalties for open burning on peatland.

Officials however declined to give specific figures for the new penalties.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel reportedly said both countries had “basically agreed on” the pact but declined to say when it might be signed.

What he did reveal is that information on Malaysian companies operating in Indonesia, especially those in the palm oil industry would be exchanged.

Indonesia’s deputy minister for Environmental Degradation Control and Climate Change, Arief Yuwono, told The Straits Times on Thursday that Indonesia is looking at exchange of information and experiences, but importantly it aims to establish joint research focusing on fire prevention and not just combating a blaze.

Discussions for the memorandum of understanding (MoU) began last month on the sidelines of an Asean inter-ministerial meeting, leading to a ratification of an Asean haze pact by Indonesia’s Parliament last week.

Arief said a joint steering committee will be set up in Jakarta as part of the MoU to oversee its implementation.

The agreement comes when forest areas in Sumatra and Kalimantan were causing haze in the region.

Just last week, at least two areas in Peninsular Malaysia recorded unhealthy air levels due to the transboundary haze, according to the Department of Environment (DOE).

Eight states, including Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, experience moderate air quality.

Three areas in Sarawak had also experienced unhealthy air levels due to the forest fires.

Singapore meanwhile was in the “final phase” of discussion to revive its anti-haze cooperation with Jambi province.

The island nation signed a two-year agreement with the Indonesian province in 2007 to help it better monitor hot spots and curb fires.