Malaysia calls for collective Asean action to tackle transboundary haze

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is urging all Asean member states to work together to improve readiness against transboundary haze, according to Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup. The minister emphasized the importance of preventive measures, national preparedness, and continuous monitoring, as outlined in the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP).

Arthur urged member states to tighten control measures, improve hotspot surveillance, enforce bans on open burning, and maintain efficient firefighting readiness. He conveyed Malaysia's stance in an official message to Asean Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn. Arthur noted that while fire incidents remained contained within individual countries, the threat of transboundary haze necessitated collective preparedness and vigilance at the regional level.

He stressed that early interventions, accurate information sharing, and close regional coordination are crucial to effectively tackling the haze issue. Current weather trends indicated that prolonged dry conditions in southern Asean areas had heightened hotspot activity and haze formation, which could worsen as the El Nino phenomenon strengthens in the coming months.

Malaysia expressed appreciation for the Asean Secretariat's proactive role as the Interim Asean Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (ACC THPC) in promoting information exchange, coordinating preparedness actions among member states, and enhancing cooperation mechanisms under the AATHP. The minister expressed confidence that strong commitment and proactive measures from all Asean nations would bolster regional resilience against climate challenges while preserving a sustainable, prosperous, and haze-free environment for current and future generations.