JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 7 — Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to play a more active role and to convene an emergency meeting to address the haze crisis.

He said the current transboundary haze situation is affecting Johor, particularly in the areas of public health and a deteriorating air quality in several areas of the state.

“Asean nations possessing the expertise, assets, and capabilities can step forward to assist based on needs, through coordination and mutual agreement.

“With effective cooperation, prevention, monitoring and response, efforts can be implemented immediately and effectively for the people across the region,” he said in a statement issued today.

Onn Hafiz hopes the proposal will be considered by Asean’s leadership to restore the situation and ensure the public can return to living in a safer and healthier environment.

He added that the proposal was raised during an earlier meeting with the Indonesian consul general in Johor Bahru Sigit Suryantoro Widiyanto.

“I conveyed the state government’s concerns and expressed hope that efforts to tackle the root causes of the haze can be further intensified.

“Our approach here is not to point fingers at any party, but rather to find a collective solution. The impact transcends our national borders,” he said.

Onn Hafiz explained that when air pollution crosses borders and affects neighboring countries, including Malaysia, the issue inevitably requires closer regional cooperation for mutual benefit.

Earlier today, Johor recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings, with figures between 161 and 197, in eight monitoring stations.

Batu Pahat was the worst hit with an API reading of 197 in the morning.

Yesterday a total of 335 education institutions in the Batu Pahat district were ordered to close today after the API reading in the district reached 208 last night. - malaymail