The haze is man-made, the suffering is shared

Heavy rains earlier this week in Kuching did little to alleviate the choking haze that has enveloped the city and much of Sarawak. The Air Pollution Index continues to rise, reaching hazardous levels. Anger over the deteriorating air quality is widespread, seemingly beyond the control of local authorities. A politician from Serian, the closest major town to the Kalimantan border, has even suggested requesting reparations from Indonesia, the primary source of the haze due to uncontrolled forest fires.

The haze has re-emerged with renewed intensity this year, possibly linked to the prolonged El Nino dry spell. Memories are still fresh of the worst haze incident nearly three decades ago, when everything appeared as grainy television footage. At the time, a federal minister made a wildly impractical suggestion to evacuate the entire population of Sarawak! Indonesian President Suharto eventually issued a public apology.

The annual haze, which respects no international borders, has prompted the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to address the issue. Malaysians understandably complain about the poor air quality affecting their country, but it is also important to consider the suffering of Indonesians in Kalimantan and Sumatra who are directly impacted by the haze. These Indonesians, much like us, may have limited power to demand action from their government to curb this recurring problem.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has recently taken a strong stance against large conglomerates that are seen as irresponsible in their environmental practices, particularly those involved in oil palm plantations in Kalimantan where many forest fires are deliberately started to cut costs. Malaysians should support firm and decisive action from Indonesian authorities against such corporate negligence, even if some of the plantations are owned by Malaysian conglomerates.

While Malaysians express collective dismay over the man-made haze, it is crucial to extend empathy to Indonesians who must endure the same, though often more severe, conditions. Indonesians in the island of Flores have recently experienced a powerful earthquake, causing death and destruction, just as the country regularly suffers from such natural disasters.

Meanwhile, Manila in the Philippines faces inundation due to excessive rainfall, with the city's impoverished residents bearing the brunt of the flooding. As we empathize with our neighbors dealing with natural disasters, we must also remain resolute in demanding firm action against those responsible for man-made forest fires and the resulting haze.