6-10-2023 (JAKARTA) Indonesia’s Environment Minister has reported a decline in forest fires in certain regions of the country, dispelling concerns about haze drifting into Malaysia. This announcement comes in response to Malaysia’s plea for action as deteriorating air quality plagues the nation.
Malaysia’s Minister of Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, expressed his concerns to Reuters, urging Indonesia to address the persistent haze issue. He argued that living under the shadow of haze should not become the “new normal.”
In response to Malaysia’s appeal, Indonesia’s Environment Minister, Siti Nurbaya, told Reuters that her government was not acting at Malaysia’s behest. She questioned the basis for Malaysia’s statements, emphasizing that their efforts were not in response to external pressure.
Historically, forest fires in Indonesia, notably in 2015 and 2019, caused extensive haze that blanketed the region, burning millions of hectares of land and resulting in unprecedented emissions. This situation is primarily attributed to land clearing fires used for palm oil and pulp and paper plantations. The annual recurrence of this issue poses health risks and raises concerns among tourism operators and airlines operating in the region.
The Indonesian Environment Minister’s statement coincided with a joint commitment from Southeast Asian agriculture and forestry ministers. They have collectively pledged to take action to reduce and eventually eliminate crop burning in the region, a significant contributor to the recurring haze problem.
This commitment was solidified at a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Malaysia, where member nations recognized the severe environmental and health impacts of crop burning practices. As a result, they have agreed to work together to reduce and phase out this harmful practice.
