MoU with Indonesia on peat fires to be renewed

PARLIAMENT: AT THE DEWAN RAKYAT

MALAYSIA is set to renew a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indonesia soon to enforce measures to curb peat soil fires that contribute to trans-border haze.

“The timeframe under the present MoU will end this year and we will be signing a new agreement soon,” Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos Mamit said.

He said there were plans to help Indonesia tackle the haze problem under the coming MoU.

“I will travel to Sumatra for this purpose and also to evaluate peat conditions there,” he said when questioned by Dr Michael Jayekumar Devaraj (PSM-Sungai Siput).

He said outbreaks of peat soil fires, particularly in the Riau province, were common during the dry spell due to ground surface water loss.

He added that extensive peat soil studies done in Sarawak three years ago would provide Indonesia with better know-how in dealing more effectively with the problem.