JOHOR BARU: Asean should hold an emergency meeting to tackle the cross-border haze affecting Johor and other parts of the region, says Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
The Johor Mentri Besar said a collective approach was needed as air pollution had crossed national borders and affected neighbouring countries, including Malaysia.
He said he had raised the matter during a meeting with Indonesian consul-general in Johor Baru Sigit Suryantoro Widiyanto, where they discussed the current cross-border haze situation and its impact on public health and air quality in several areas of Johor.
“I believe Asean needs to play a more active role and hold an emergency meeting to address this crisis collectively,” he said in a statement posted on his Facebook page here Wednesday (Oct 7).
Onn Hafiz said Asean countries with the necessary expertise, assets and capabilities could assist based on needs and through mutual coordination and agreement.
“With good cooperation, prevention, monitoring and response efforts can be carried out more quickly and effectively for the well-being of people across the region,” he said.
He said the Johor government was concerned about the haze situation and hoped efforts to address its causes could be intensified.
However, Onn Hafiz stressed that the approach should not be about pointing fingers at any particular party but about finding a solution together.
“This is because the effects have already crossed the borders of individual countries,” he said.
He added that the proposal should be considered by the leaders of Asean member states to help restore the situation as quickly as possible and ensure people could return to living in a safer and healthier environment.
