Greenpeace seeks action against Malaysian firms over haze

 It has submitted a memorandum on findings that identified 20 companies allegedly linked to fire hotspots, including Malaysian and Singaporean-linked firms.

(From left) MPs Tan Kar Hing, Young Syefura Othman, R Yuneswaran, Tan Hong Pin, Khoo Poay Tiong, and Dr Kelvin Yii were among eight who received the memorandum from Greenpeace Malaysia campaign manager Heng Kiah Chun (second from right) outside the Parliament building.

KUALA LUMPUR:

Eight government MPs today received a memorandum from environmental group Greenpeace Malaysia calling for action against Malaysian companies named in findings on firms allegedly linked to the transboundary haze.

The MPs are Dr Kelvin Yii (Bandar Kuching), Young Syefura Othman (Bentong), Khoo Poay Tiong (Kota Melaka), Syerleena Abdul Rashid (Bukit Bendera), R Yuneswaran (Segamat), Tan Kar Hing (Gopeng), Tan Hong Pin (Bakri) and Hassan Karim (Pasir Gudang).

The memorandum followed findings by Greenpeace Indonesia, Greenpeace Malaysia and Pantau Gambut, which identified 20 companies allegedly linked to fire hotspots in Indonesia, including Malaysian and Singaporean-linked firms.

Greenpeace Malaysia called on the government to take action against companies proven to be responsible, expedite a proposed transboundary haze law and seek greater transparency from Indonesia on fire locations, investigation findings and companies potentially linked to the fires.

Syerleena said the haze had become a recurring problem, affecting air quality, schools and public health. “We already know the cause. Now we need action,” she said.

She called on Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia to work together as Asean neighbours to tackle the problem, alongside cooperation between civil society, Parliament and governments.

Yii said existing measures such as monitoring, data sharing and cloud seeding were insufficient and only provided short-term relief.

He said he had submitted a parliamentary question to the natural resources and environmental sustainability ministry on Oct 6 on Malaysia’s preparedness for the haze and the possibility of introducing a transboundary haze pollution law.

Yii said the ministry cited difficulties in obtaining evidence, conducting investigations and enforcing laws against parties outside Malaysia’s jurisdiction.

“These constraints should not be used as an excuse for us not to take firm action,” he said.

He called for the proposed law to be brought before a parliamentary select committee so MPs could work towards legislation that was effective and enforceable.

Yii also urged Malaysia to raise the issue at the next Asean meeting and push for stronger action under the bloc’s Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.

Khoo said he had submitted a motion to the Dewan Rakyat speaker seeking a debate on the haze, which he described as a national crisis affecting public health, safety, the economy and the wellbeing of Malaysians.

He also said that Malaysian companies should face firm action if they were found to be involved in fires in Indonesia.

“Existing laws must be used against them. If there are no applicable laws, the government should issue a stern warning and take other measures, such as blacklisting or boycotting the company, where possible,” he said. - FMT