Indonesia must act quickly against those responsible for the haze situation even if it involves Malaysian companies, said Health Minister S Subramaniam.
"I urge Indonesian authorities to take swift action, even against Malaysian companies who are responsible.
"I urge Indonesian authorities to take swift action, even against Malaysian companies who are responsible.
"It is not a natural disaster but it is a man-made disaster caused by irresponsible people," he told reporters today when met at the Parliament lobby.
He added there is "no evidence" of Malaysian companies being behind the haze, but Malaysia will support any action taken against any Malaysian companies found to be involved.
The Indonesian government should “do whatever that needs to be done” as the companies are operating on Indonesian soil, he said.
The Indonesian government should “do whatever that needs to be done” as the companies are operating on Indonesian soil, he said.
Subramaniam said the government was “prepared to face the possibility of increase” in haze levels.
"It is bad in Muar, but also getting worse in coastal areas like Port Dickson and Port Klang. And in Kuantan and Kemaman, it is also worse than before."
He advised the public to reduce outdoor activities and wear protective masks when going out.
"It is more dangerous for pregnant women and those with respiratory illnesses like asthma," he added.
"It is bad in Muar, but also getting worse in coastal areas like Port Dickson and Port Klang. And in Kuantan and Kemaman, it is also worse than before."He advised the public to reduce outdoor activities and wear protective masks when going out.
"It is more dangerous for pregnant women and those with respiratory illnesses like asthma," he added.
Earlier, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng urged the Malaysian government to probe and punish companies if found to be involved in forest burning in Indonesia.
This follows Indonesian Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya’s Saturday revelation of eight companies allegedly linked to Malaysians that is being probed over the fires in Riau and Jambi.
This follows Indonesian Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya’s Saturday revelation of eight companies allegedly linked to Malaysians that is being probed over the fires in Riau and Jambi.
Malaysian association: Open burning by local farmers
Meanwhile, the Association of Plantation Investors of Malaysia in Indonesia (Apimi) has denied that any Malaysian firms were involved in the worsening haze crisis.
Instead, Bernama reported that its executive secretary Nor Hazlan Abdul Mutalib had claimed that 20 percent of plantation land owned by Malaysian companies there are allocated to the local communities.
As such, he said cases of open burning in palm plantations owned by Malaysian companies were carried out by the small-time farmers in the areas they manage themselves.
"It is commonplace for them (local farmers) to carry out open burning for their farming," he told Bernama, adding that all the Malaysian companies can do is report the act to the local authorities as they have no authority to nab those responsible themselves.
When met at the Parliament lobby afterward, Natural Resources and Environment Minister G Palanivel did not commit to any action against the companies concerned, as he said that their operations blamed for the haze are under the Indonesian jurisdiction.
He also argued that it is unclear as to which companies are involved, and that some are not Malaysian.
Furthermore, Palanivel said that Malaysia needs to talk to Indonesia and other countries involved - such as Singapore - before taking any action to punish culprits or take any measure to mitigate the haze like cloud seeding, as it would involve a collective regional response.
Instead, Bernama reported that its executive secretary Nor Hazlan Abdul Mutalib had claimed that 20 percent of plantation land owned by Malaysian companies there are allocated to the local communities.
As such, he said cases of open burning in palm plantations owned by Malaysian companies were carried out by the small-time farmers in the areas they manage themselves.
"It is commonplace for them (local farmers) to carry out open burning for their farming," he told Bernama, adding that all the Malaysian companies can do is report the act to the local authorities as they have no authority to nab those responsible themselves.
When met at the Parliament lobby afterward, Natural Resources and Environment Minister G Palanivel did not commit to any action against the companies concerned, as he said that their operations blamed for the haze are under the Indonesian jurisdiction.
He also argued that it is unclear as to which companies are involved, and that some are not Malaysian.
Furthermore, Palanivel said that Malaysia needs to talk to Indonesia and other countries involved - such as Singapore - before taking any action to punish culprits or take any measure to mitigate the haze like cloud seeding, as it would involve a collective regional response.
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