Lim Guan Eng urges govt to consider RM1,000 tax rebate for Malaysians buying air purifiers amid haze crisis

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 — DAP's Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng has urged the government to provide a special RM1,000 tax rebate for Malaysians purchasing air purifiers amid the haze crisis, which he attributes to Indonesia. Lim believes that ordinary citizens are suffering financial burdens due to the shortage of air purifiers and increased prices.

The rebate should be a tax rebate, not a tax deduction, he emphasized. Lim explained that air purifiers can help mitigate the health impacts of the haze on the elderly and young children, and the rebate would alleviate some of the unexpected expenses faced by ordinary Malaysians. In addition, Lim criticized Indonesia for its reluctance to declare the situation a national disaster and turn down international aid when it was evident they couldn't handle it.

He pointed out that Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman stated that foreign assistance, including from Malaysia, had to wait until Indonesia declared the situation a national disaster. Dudung also asserted that the Indonesian government was confident in managing the crisis with its own resources.

Lim described the Malaysian government's response, led by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, as weak and disappointing. He criticized Mohamad for refusing to propose an Asean Transboundary Haze Task Force with permanent staff from Asean countries to conduct immediate firefighting operations. Since Indonesia rejected the offer, Lim said, Mohamad also declined to sue Indonesia and continued relying on "failed diplomatic efforts."

Meanwhile, Lim stated that Malaysians continued to face severe health issues and their children were not attending schools due to the worsening haze situation.