Malaysia will use ASEAN’s diplomatic channels to seek a solution to the cross-border haze affecting several areas in the region, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said.
He said ASEAN remains the most appropriate platform for addressing issues involving countries within the region, with Malaysia set to raise the haze issue through the regional bloc.
Mohamad said the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) would submit an official letter to the ASEAN Secretariat in the near future. Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup is also expected to write to his Indonesian counterpart on the matter.
“We believe ASEAN is the best mechanism to address issues and problems between ASEAN countries, and we believe it would be more effective for the Secretariat to manage the situation,” Mohamad said when met at a hotel today.
Mohamad is currently on a three-day working visit to Brunei, which began yesterday. The visit is being held in conjunction with the 27th Malaysia-Brunei Exchange of Letters (EOL-27) meeting on Aug. 21 and the 27th Malaysia-Brunei Annual Leaders’ Consultation (ALC-27) on Aug. 22.
Malaysia’s High Commissioner to Brunei, Datuk Mohd Aini Atan, previously said the haze affecting several parts of the region was also expected to be among the issues discussed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Brunei Sultan Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah during the ALC-27.
He said the matter was currently considered an issue of importance to both countries.
Meanwhile, data from Malaysia’s Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) showed that the Serian District Police Headquarters (IPD) area in Sarawak recorded a very unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 217 as of 4pm today.
Nine other areas in Sarawak recorded unhealthy readings, with Sri Aman at 186, Sarikei at 173, Kuching at 171, Samarahan at 170, Sibu and Samalaju at 156, Bintulu at 153, Mukah at 125 and Kapit at 108.
The readings highlight the continuing impact of the haze in parts of Sarawak, with regional cooperation expected to play a key role in tackling the cross-border pollution issue.
