We’ve done our best on the haze, says Anwar

Malaysia and Singapore have recently been enveloped in haze from forest and land fires in Indonesia, leading to a surge in respiratory ailments and school closures in certain Malaysian regions. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim affirmed that the government has exerted its utmost effort to confront the transboundary haze impacting Malaysia, in response to criticism of the country's handling of the situation with Indonesia.

Anwar made this statement after unveiling the Universiti Malaya Student Residency Project at the university's Fifth Residential College, during a brief interaction with reporters.

This response came in the wake of former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin's assertion on his Keluar Sekejap podcast that Malaysia has been "too soft" in addressing Indonesia's transboundary haze issue. Khairy advocated for a more assertive approach but recognized the importance of diplomacy in resolving the matter.

Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan indicated that Malaysia is anticipated to address the transboundary haze issue during the upcoming Asean foreign ministers meeting in Manila next month. Arthur Joseph Kurup, the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister, emphasized that any proposed legislation concerning transboundary haze must take into account its efficacy, diplomatic repercussions, evidentiary burden, and enforceability.

He highlighted that efforts to tackle the issue are becoming increasingly complicated due to climate variability, extended dry spells, and unsustainable farming practices.