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 active role and convene an emergency meeting to tackle the worsening haze crisis. The ongoing transboundary haze situation is causing significant distress, particularly in Johor, affecting public health and air quality in various parts of the state.

"Asean nations possessing the expertise, assets, and capabilities can step forward to assist based on needs, through coordination and mutual agreement," Onn Hafiz emphasized in a statement. He hopes Asean's leadership will consider his proposal to restore the situation and ensure a safer and healthier environment for the region's residents.

Onn Hafiz highlighted this during an earlier discussion with the Indonesian consul general in Johor Bahru, Sigit Suryantoro Widiyanto. The Johor Chief Minister's proposal was aimed at intensifying efforts to address the root causes of the haze, rather than attributing blame to any specific party. The haze issue is not confined to Malaysia, but extends to neighboring countries, necessitating closer regional cooperation for mutual benefit.

Recent data revealed that Johor's air quality has reached unhealthy levels, with API readings ranging from 161 to 197 at eight monitoring stations, with Batu Pahat experiencing the most severe impact with an API reading of 197 in the morning. This prompted the closure of 335 education institutions in the Batu Pahat district following a sharp rise to 208 API last night.