KUALA LUMPUR: The government should expedite the enactment of a comprehensive Clean Air Act to tackle recurring haze and other sources of air pollution, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
The Alliance for a Safe Community chairman said the recurring haze affecting Malaysians should serve as a warning that air pollution could no longer be treated as merely a seasonal or temporary problem.
Lee pointed out that the haze had affected schools, outdoor activities and the daily lives of Malaysians.
“Malaysia needs a stronger and more integrated legal framework to protect the fundamental right of our people to breathe clean and safe air,” he said when contacted on Saturday (Oct 24).
He also called for input from environmental scientists, public health experts, legal specialists, industry representatives, local authorities and civil society in developing the proposed legislation.
According to Lee, the law should address not only transboundary haze but also pollution from industrial activities, vehicles, open burning, construction, agriculture, power generation and other sources.
Among the measures he proposed were stronger air quality standards and monitoring, transparent real-time information, tighter emission controls and more effective enforcement against those responsible for serious pollution.
He also called for clearer accountability for polluters, including companies and operators whose activities caused significant environmental harm.
Lee said controls on open burning should be supported by practical alternatives and stronger enforcement, while public health protection measures should prioritise children, senior citizens, outdoor workers and those particularly vulnerable to polluted air.
The proposed law should also make greater use of technology and scientific data, including satellite monitoring, emissions monitoring and early-warning systems, he added.
“Clear emergency protocols for severe pollution episodes are also needed, so that action can be triggered quickly rather than waiting until the situation becomes a public health crisis,” he said.
Lee stressed that Malaysia must continue working with Asean partners to address transboundary haze at its source, as air pollution did not respect national borders.
He noted that Malaysia had proposed initiatives such as science diplomacy and a Sustainable Haze Fund under Asean’s transboundary haze framework.
However, he said regional cooperation should complement, rather than replace, strong domestic legislation.
Lee also welcomed the Environment Department’s recent engagement with stakeholders to strengthen clean-air regulations, urging the process to be broadened and accelerated into a comprehensive legislative framework.
“We should not wait for another major haze episode before taking decisive action.
“Clean air is not a luxury. It is essential to public health, quality of life and sustainable national development,” he said.
Lee said Malaysia needed to move away from a reactive approach towards a prevention-based, science-driven and legally enforceable clean-air regime.
“The time for a comprehensive Clean Air Act is now,” he added.
