| More serious punitive measures are needed to prevent the annual recurrence of the haze as it is causing maximum danger to the people’s health and life in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.
Oil palm, the so called golden crop and a boon for Indonesia and Malaysia, has now become the bane, and a tragedy for both nations. Although open burning in Malaysia has been minimal during the dry months due to strict enforcement, the smallholders in the Johan Setia area in Selangor have been a stubborn lot, very much like their Indonesian counterparts, with their open burning that thickens the smoke and haze in the Klang Valley.
The EU has shown a greater response and resolve to tackle environmental issues as was the case with the recent Amazon fires in Brazil. The haze has enveloped three countries already and the eco-activists and environmental NGOs will need to act on behalf of the people even if the Indonesian government is unable to rein in the farmers and plantation owners.
It must be noted here that there are various alternatives to palm oil. Even Malaysian consumers venting their anger at the haze could boycott palm oil. The air pollution index in some parts of Kalimantan and Sumatra is so high that it is a serious health hazard especially to children.
Not haze , it’s human itself