Asean a toothless bloc, says Klang MP

Charles Santiago slams the regional organisation for failure to solve the haze problem.

PETALING JAYA: Klang MP Charles Santiago has denounced Asean as “toothless” for its failure to solve the haze problem plaguing Malaysians and Singaporeans.

“This is a severe environmental and health crisis and Asean is unable to address the issue, but merely paying lip service,” he said in an interview with FMT. “It’s proving to be a toothless regional bloc.”

He said the Asean Haze Transboundary declaration had not been effective in curbing forest fires in Indonesia.

“It has become a health, environmental and economic problem in Singapore and Malaysia,” he added.

Santiago said he was also not satisfied with the way the Malaysian government was releasing Air Pollution Index (API) information, saying the index should be announced on an hourly basis, like in Singapore, and the measurement should be against PM2.5 instead of PM10.

“PM2.5 particles could have severe health consequences, including cancer,” he said. “Children and the elderly are especially affected.”

He said the public should demand that the government pay their bills for treatment of ailments caused by the haze.

He also said he agreed with Singapore’s move to file a suit against the government of Indonesia and called on Putrajaya to follow in the republic’s footsteps.

“Yes, legal action should be taken against companies and governments who are complicit in the haze nightmare,” he said.