Hisham: Malaysia willing to help Indonesia tackle haze issue

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is more than willing to help Indonesia tackle the haze issue, says Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (pic).

The Defence Minister said while Malaysia had yet to officially offer help to Indonesia, they were more than willing to do so.

"We are willing to help. I am looking to get in touch with Singapore and Indonesia to see how we can go forward with this as it is a regional issue that affects us all yearly," he said in a press conference at Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia Tuesday.

Hishammuddin also said he had personally been affected by the haze.

"I'm also suffering because I am asthmatic," he said.

Schools in several states were closed on Monday and Tuesday to the haze, following Air Pollutant Index (API) readings reaching unhealthy and very unhealthy levels.

On Sept 15, schools in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Malacca were closed after API readings in some of the areas rose to nearly 200.

An API reading of between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 (moderate), 101 to 200 (unhealthy), 201 to 300 (very unhealthy), and 301 and above (hazardous).

The haze in Malaysia is caused by open burning and forest fires in Indonesia.