PETALING JAYA (June 25): Klang MP Charles Santiago has called on Asean countries to come up with more durable solution to the yearly haze problem and put pressure on Indonesia to ratify the Asean Agreement on Trans-boundary Haze Pollution.
"Asean nations, Malaysia included, do not keep up enough pressure to lobby Indonesia to ink the agreement.
"Without Indonesia signing the agreement, there is no point in having the yearly meeting. It's time that Indonesia shoulders the legal obligation," the DAP lawmaker said in a statement today.
The Asean Agreement on Trans-boundary Haze Pollution is an environmental agreement to reduce haze pollution in Southeast Asia and came in force in 2003. All Asean countries except Indonesia have ratified the agreement.
Charles also said Malaysia need not to leave it to Indonesia alone to monitor, regulate or prosecute errant companies.
"Malaysia can keep a close watch on Malaysian companies in Sumatra and charge those that flout laws for these companies have committed nothing less than a crime against humanity," he said.
The Klang MP also hashed out at the government for alleged lack of initiative at educating the public on the dangers of the haze.
"We see most Malaysians walking around with surgical masks that would not help to keep off the tiny particles. It is the responsibility of the government to educate the people to wear N95 masks as well as cap the price to make it affordable," he said.
The Health Ministry, he added, should have also started distributing masks to ensure that the poor had access to them as well.
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