INDONESIA GIVES ASSURANCE OF A HAZE-FREE YEAR
2020 haze-free roadmap on track, says Wan Junaidi
INDONESIA is committed to preventing haze by implementing more systematic measures to address the problem. In past years, burning in farms and plantations there triggered air pollution in the region.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said Indonesia had assured Asean that it would prevent haze from recurring this year.
“I am confident following assurances from our Indonesian counterparts on their efforts last year. The roadmap towards achieving a haze-free region by 2020 is on track,” he said.
Based on last year’s scientific monitoring, Malaysia encountered two days of haze and Singapore three. This is a tremendous improvement from 2015.
“Indonesia took systematic actions last year based on the Roadmap on Asean Cooperation towards Transboundary Haze Pollution Control with Means of Implementation, which led to the improved conditions last year,” Wan Junaidi said.
The roadmap was ratified last year by member countries.
Wan Junaidi yesterday chaired the 19th Meeting of the Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution with representatives from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
Among the initiatives included boosting haze control management through early warning and monitoring; fire prevention and suppression; and refinement of the Fire Danger Rating System.
Representatives had agreed to share hotspot information, especially during the dry spell.
Wan Junaidi said despite the dry season expected to last until September, the weather this year was expected to be better than last year, with mild El Niño effects.
Wan Junaidi said Malaysia was prepared to help Indonesia if haze occurred and the situation became uncontrollable.