Haze: Ban open burning as soon as possible, urges Wan Junaidi

PETALING JAYA: A ban on opening burning activities must be declared as soon as possible to prevent the haze from worsening, said Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

"Based on past experiences, a multi discipline Dry Weather Committee would have been activated in March at the onset of hotter and drier weather.

"A prohibition against open burning activities would have been declared by the government by April.

"A declaration must be made by the environment minister to empower the police, fire and rescue services department and local council to act against illegal opening burning activities," the former natural resources and environment minister said when contacted on Sunday (April 16).

He also said that a heat wave warning must be declared for a particular area if daily temperature rises above 36 degrees Celsius.

On Saturday (April 15), Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said that the nation was bracing for the return of the haze due to the recent hot and dry conditions.

He said the monsoon transition period, which would last till August, usually brought hotter and drier weather.

This came after two areas recorded unhealthy air quality readings on Saturday (April 15) – Segamat in Johor and Tanah Merah in Kelantan, according to the Environment Department.

Environment Department director-general Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar said the Air Pollutant Index (API) recorded in Segamat was 139 while Tanah Merah was at 109 as of 2pm on Saturday (April 15).

Nik Nazmi said that a meeting would be held soon involving several ministries and agencies on the matter.

Meanwhile, Wan Junaidi said the current haze was not due to trans-boundary haze which happened in 2015.

"The current haze situation is localised and not due to regional hotspots.

"It is likely due to recent increase in more solid particles being suspended in the air during hot and dry weather from the recent increase in traffic and also opening burning activities," he added.

In 2015, Malaysia, Singapore and parts of Thailand were badly affected by haze due to open burning activities in Indonesia, prompting the closure of schools while also disrupting air travel.

Wan Junaidi, who was made research professor by University of Seoul in 2016 for his work on the haze, said Nik Nazmi must brief Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Cabinet on the nation's weather and water condition as soon as possible.