THE haze is here again, but this time it feels like it is not going to clear up.
It’s been more than a week and the air quality in some places is unhealthy, recording Air Pollutant Index (API) readings of between 150 and 200.
At the latest count, about 200 schools have been closed in Sabah and Sarawak, and 300 in Johor. In Kuala Lumpur, 40 schools have been closed since last week.
On Friday, cloud seeding was carried out in some parts and although the condition improved, the smog returned on Monday.
Why is this an annual occurrence?
Farmers and oil palm planters in Indonesia prefer the slash-and-burn method to clear their land of old crops.
In July, a portion of Indonesia’s forest, peatland and bush areas in Riau, Kalimantan, Sumatra and Jami was engulfed in fire.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has instructed the National Board for Disaster Management, National Armed Forces and the National Police to deal with the fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan. He even threatened to sack the firefighters if the forest fires were not contained immediately.
Indonesia’s environment and forestry minister has claimed that four palm oil companies with Malaysian links are the culprits behind some of the forest fires. Parts of Kalimantan recorded an API of above 700.
Malaysia and Indonesia have to discuss what needs to be done to overcome this haze crisis.
Pointing fingers will not help. The situation is not getting any better and a long-term solution is needed so that next year, we will not have to face this again.
Both governments must enforce a ban on open burning and educate their citizens on the importance of clean air and proper waste management.
Without a discussion among the parties concerned, this issue will not be resolved. So stop the blame game and get to work.
ALEXANDER GOH
Kuala Lumpur