KUALA LUMPUR: Companies responsible for open burning, peatland destruction and allowing fires to spread must be publicly named and held accountable for the annual haze crisis, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
The Alliance for a Safe Community chairman said the haze should not be treated as a seasonal problem that could be resolved simply by changes in wind direction, warning that the underlying causes must be addressed to prevent it from recurring.
“The wind will shift — but the smoke will keep coming back until we stop those who are responsible,” he said when contacted on Wednesday (Oct 14).
Lee said the haze continued to affect public health, disrupt schooling, hurt businesses and impose billions of ringgit in economic losses.
He said relying on favourable weather to disperse the smoke would only provide temporary relief, with the problem likely to return during the next dry season if no effective action was taken.
Lee called for the authorities to identify and publicly disclose the companies responsible for land clearing through fires, the destruction of peatlands and failing to prevent fires from spreading.
“There is no good reason to keep them hidden. The public has a right to know who causes this yearly suffering,” he said.
He also questioned the effectiveness of the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, saying stronger enforcement was needed to ensure that the regional pact achieved its intended purpose.
“The Asean haze agreement was supposed to stop this. But clearly, it is not working. We need real enforcement, not just polite words,” he said.
Lee urged Indonesia to accept assistance in extinguishing fires, stressing that such cooperation must be accompanied by accountability for those responsible.
He said the parties involved should be identified, investigated and punished.
“Clean air is not a favour. It is a basic right,” he said, adding that Malaysians should not have to depend on weather conditions to breathe safely.
