Johor MB pushes for Asean emergency talks as haze hits unhealthy levels

Johor's Chief Minister, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, has urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to take a more proactive stance and convene an emergency meeting to tackle the ongoing haze crisis. The Malaysian state is grappling with the adverse effects of transboundary haze, which is impacting public health and air quality across multiple regions.

Onn Hafiz emphasized that Asean nations, equipped with the necessary expertise, resources, and capabilities, should step in to offer assistance based on their specific needs and coordinate efforts in a mutually agreed manner. He believes that through effective collaboration, prevention, monitoring, and response measures can be initiated promptly and efficiently to safeguard the well-being of people across the region.

The Johor chief minister expressed his hopes that Asean's leadership would consider his proposal and take immediate action to restore the situation, ensuring a safer and healthier environment for the public. He highlighted this during a previous meeting with the Indonesian consul general in Johor Bahru, Sigit Suryantoro Widiyanto, where he conveyed the state government's concerns and expressed optimism about intensifying efforts to address the root causes of the haze.

Onn Hafiz clarified that the proposal is not aimed at blaming any particular party, but rather seeks a collective solution that transcends national borders. Earlier today, Johor recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings ranging from 161 to 197 in eight monitoring stations, with Batu Pahat experiencing the most severe impact, recording an API of 197 in the morning.

In response, yesterday, 335 educational institutions in the Batu Pahat district were ordered to close following an API reading of 208 in the district the previous night.