Multi-pronged approach needed to tackle haze

ONCE again, people in Kalimantan, parts of Malaysia and across the region are breathing toxic, smoke-filled air caused by land clearing across the border. Yet, what makes this choking haze even harder to endure is the official response from across the border – or rather, the deafening silence. When offers of firefighting assistance are dismissed by remarks suggesting we should simply be grateful for months of fresh air, it leaves the public feeling helpless and deeply frustrated.

To understand just how abnormal this neighbourly dynamic is, we only need to look at how we behave in our own neighbourhoods. Imagine living in a housing estate where a resident decides to burn rubbish in their backyard. The thick, foul-smelling smoke billows directly into your living room, choking your family.