KOTA KINABALU: The federal government must step up diplomatic efforts with Indonesia to tackle recurring transboundary haze, says the National Consumers’ Foundation Malaysia (NCFM).
NCFM Sabah chapter chairman David Chan urged the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability and the Foreign Ministry to hold constructive talks with Jakarta under the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.
"Clean air is a fundamental necessity, not a favour one country provides to another," Chan said, calling the remarks disappointing and concerning.
He highlighted the risk to vulnerable groups, warning that prolonged exposure to haze aggravates asthma, respiratory infections, and heart conditions.
Chan called on Jakarta to enforce stricter measures against illegal open burning, penalise companies causing forest fires, improve early fire detection, and enhance transparent information-sharing across ASEAN to safeguard regional public health.
