The government must act against the eight Malaysian-linked companies that Indonesia has identified to have contributed to the haze situation in the region through its forest burning, said said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
“Indonesian Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya’s claims that eight companies with Malaysian ownership were contributing to the haze pollution by using the cheap but outlawed slash-and-burn methods to clear land for their plantations must be fully verified.
“If true, not just Indonesia, but Malaysia too must prosecute and punish any Malaysian plantation companies who are proven to be involved in the outlawed slash-and-burn methods of clearing land for their plantations in Sumatra,” said Lim (left) in a statement today.
He said if proven true, the plantations companies’ acts constitute “an act of betrayal to Malaysians by destroying both the environment and forests as well as threatening the safety and health of Malaysians”.
Lim urged the government to send its own investigators to verify Indonesia’s claims, and “severely and sternly punish any Malaysian companies if they were so involved”.
“Indonesian Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya’s claims that eight companies with Malaysian ownership were contributing to the haze pollution by using the cheap but outlawed slash-and-burn methods to clear land for their plantations must be fully verified.
“If true, not just Indonesia, but Malaysia too must prosecute and punish any Malaysian plantation companies who are proven to be involved in the outlawed slash-and-burn methods of clearing land for their plantations in Sumatra,” said Lim (left) in a statement today.He said if proven true, the plantations companies’ acts constitute “an act of betrayal to Malaysians by destroying both the environment and forests as well as threatening the safety and health of Malaysians”.
Lim urged the government to send its own investigators to verify Indonesia’s claims, and “severely and sternly punish any Malaysian companies if they were so involved”.
Indonesia names names
In the worsening haze situation that has hit Johor the hardest, Muar charted near record levels of pollution yesterday and an emergency was declared.
The Education Ministry also ordered schools in many regions nationwide to be close.
Over the weekend, Singapore’s The Straits Timesreported the Indonesian environment minister revealing the acronyms of eight companies who are being investigated for forest burning in Riau and Jambi, and which are said to have been the cause for the haze.
According to the report, it is customary in Indonesia to give only the initials of the companies under investigation. The eight companies listed were:
In the worsening haze situation that has hit Johor the hardest, Muar charted near record levels of pollution yesterday and an emergency was declared.
The Education Ministry also ordered schools in many regions nationwide to be close.Over the weekend, Singapore’s The Straits Timesreported the Indonesian environment minister revealing the acronyms of eight companies who are being investigated for forest burning in Riau and Jambi, and which are said to have been the cause for the haze.
According to the report, it is customary in Indonesia to give only the initials of the companies under investigation. The eight companies listed were:
- PT Langgam Inti Hiberida
- PT Bumi Rakksa Sejati
- PT Tunggal Mitra Plantation
- PT Udaya Loh Dinawi
- PT Adei Plantation
- PT Jatim Jaya Perkasa
- PT Multi Gambut Industri
- PT Mustika Agro Lestari
“Speaking at a press conference in Pekanbaru on Saturday, Balthasar said all the eight companies are owned by Malaysian investors, and that fires were discovered on their concessions,” reported the leading Singapore daily.
The minister added that another 14 companies are being probed, but did not identify them.
According to Lim, Balthasar had elsewhere claimed that “the Malaysian plantation companies have often ordered local people to burn forest or peatland near their concessions, hoping that the fire will spread onto their land. Once the fire takes hold of their concessions, the companies shift the blame onto the local residents as if the fire had accidentally spread to their land”.
The Penang chief minister - who is also DAP secretary-general - said the government “must thoroughly investigate” the firms, especially if it involves any government-owned companies as the serious allegations “can adversely damage the international reputation” of the country.
At the same time, Lim urged the Indonesian government to recognise their own failure to prevent the annual affair from recurring in their territories and not just lay blame on Malaysian companies that may be innocent.
“DAP hopes that the Indonesian government is not trying to divert attention from their failure to prevent such open burning by Indonesian plantation companies and small-holders, by pinning the blame solely on innocent Malaysian companies.”
On Friday, Lim said DAP will push for new laws to impose sanctions against Malaysian companies and foreign companies in Malaysia that contribute to the haze.
He said Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching has been directed to propose amendments to the Environmental Quality Act via an urgent motion in Parliament this week, and urged MPs to back the proposal.
The minister added that another 14 companies are being probed, but did not identify them.
According to Lim, Balthasar had elsewhere claimed that “the Malaysian plantation companies have often ordered local people to burn forest or peatland near their concessions, hoping that the fire will spread onto their land. Once the fire takes hold of their concessions, the companies shift the blame onto the local residents as if the fire had accidentally spread to their land”.
The Penang chief minister - who is also DAP secretary-general - said the government “must thoroughly investigate” the firms, especially if it involves any government-owned companies as the serious allegations “can adversely damage the international reputation” of the country.At the same time, Lim urged the Indonesian government to recognise their own failure to prevent the annual affair from recurring in their territories and not just lay blame on Malaysian companies that may be innocent.
“DAP hopes that the Indonesian government is not trying to divert attention from their failure to prevent such open burning by Indonesian plantation companies and small-holders, by pinning the blame solely on innocent Malaysian companies.”
On Friday, Lim said DAP will push for new laws to impose sanctions against Malaysian companies and foreign companies in Malaysia that contribute to the haze.
He said Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching has been directed to propose amendments to the Environmental Quality Act via an urgent motion in Parliament this week, and urged MPs to back the proposal.
Parliament motion filed today
Teo meanwhile filed the emergency motion in parliament this morning, citing Standing Order 18(2).
In a statement, the DAP assistant publicity secretary said the motion is to serve as a “wake up call” to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his cabinet, as to the seriousness of the matter.
Teo (right) expressed concerns that worsening haze could be fatal, quoting a 2002 research paper by University of Michigan professor of demography Narayan Sastry on haze, which states: “In Kuala Lumpur, non-traumatic mortality among the population aged 65-74 increased about 70 percent following a day of high levels of air pollution.”
She said now that the haze has moved from Johor northwards to Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and Port Klang areas, more Malaysians, especially the elderly, fetal, infants and children, are exposed to the health risks.
“And yet we do not see any constructive and aggressive measures taken by our government especially the Health Minister (Dr S Subramaniam) to take care of the health of the people.”
In a statement, the DAP assistant publicity secretary said the motion is to serve as a “wake up call” to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his cabinet, as to the seriousness of the matter.Teo (right) expressed concerns that worsening haze could be fatal, quoting a 2002 research paper by University of Michigan professor of demography Narayan Sastry on haze, which states: “In Kuala Lumpur, non-traumatic mortality among the population aged 65-74 increased about 70 percent following a day of high levels of air pollution.”
She said now that the haze has moved from Johor northwards to Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and Port Klang areas, more Malaysians, especially the elderly, fetal, infants and children, are exposed to the health risks.
“And yet we do not see any constructive and aggressive measures taken by our government especially the Health Minister (Dr S Subramaniam) to take care of the health of the people.”
"The inaction of the Najib administration is totally unacceptable," she said.
Umno Youth to pray for rain
Meanwhile, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said the wing will hand a memorandum to the Indonesian embassy today to urge the southern neighbour to handle the haze situation.
“Umno Youth feels that the Indonesian government must act firmly in this matter for the sake of the solidarity, tolerance and cooperation amongst the South-East Asian countries.
“The Malaysian government has already stated its readiness to assist Indonesia in solving this haze problem,” he said in a statement today.
However, Khairy (right) did not mention Indonesia’s allegations on the involvement of Malaysian-owned companies.
Khairy, who is also sports and youth minister, said Umno Youth will launch a campaign on the use of face masks and will be giving out free masks to the people, especially in badly hit areas.
He added that the youth wing will also hold prayers for rain at the Putra World Trade Centre mosque tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said the wing will hand a memorandum to the Indonesian embassy today to urge the southern neighbour to handle the haze situation.
“Umno Youth feels that the Indonesian government must act firmly in this matter for the sake of the solidarity, tolerance and cooperation amongst the South-East Asian countries.“The Malaysian government has already stated its readiness to assist Indonesia in solving this haze problem,” he said in a statement today.
However, Khairy (right) did not mention Indonesia’s allegations on the involvement of Malaysian-owned companies.
Khairy, who is also sports and youth minister, said Umno Youth will launch a campaign on the use of face masks and will be giving out free masks to the people, especially in badly hit areas.
He added that the youth wing will also hold prayers for rain at the Putra World Trade Centre mosque tomorrow.
DOE Air Pollutant Index - check API readings nationwide
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