Malaysia sticks to diplomatic approach on transboundary haze

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is sticking to its diplomatic approach when dealing with transboundary haze issues with Indonesia, as outlined by the Asean framework, according to Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh. Malaysia's approach is slightly different from Singapore's, which opts for more aggressive legal measures.

Malaysia remains committed to diplomatic efforts and strengthening existing agreements under the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP), emphasizing systematic and active implementation. Singapore's legal actions have somewhat impacted diplomatic relations between the two nations. Dr Halimah Ali (PN-Kapar) inquired whether Malaysia might cooperate with Singapore or adopt its approach, to which Syed Ibrahim responded that Malaysia's stance remains focused on diplomacy and agreement enforcement.

Singapore recently passed amendments to the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, imposing higher fines and granting broader investigative powers. When asked if the government would review AATHP to introduce stricter enforcement, Syed Ibrahim stated that the agreement is a regional framework for cooperation, monitoring, and coordinated action among Asean member states.

However, it does not include inter-state enforcement or compensation mechanisms, requiring extensive consideration of various factors before any changes.