SMOKE SIGNALS DANGER

It is alarming that, of late, open burning has been reported in various parts of the country, particularly in Selangor, Perak and Pahang, while the haze has already appeared in several places including Penang.

Our concern is made more urgent by the fires that are still raging in neighbouring Indonesia.  These fires are aggravating air pollution for ordinary Malaysians.

Given our `hazy experience’ last year and its serious impact on the people’s health.  Aliran calls upon the authorities, in particular the Department of Environment and the Fire and Rescue Department, to step up their battle against this environmental hazard.

We also urge the authorities to come down hard on those committing environmental burning crimes and to impose heavy penalties - without resorting to the Internal Security Act - on them.

At the same time, we feel that a concerted effort must be undertaken by State governments to mount a campaign to raise awareness about the health hazards of the smog, fire-fighting techniques, and other precautionary measures.

By so doing, the Fire and Rescue Department will not only avoid having to spend more than RM10 million in fire-fighting activities, which it incurred last year, but also protect the health of Malaysians and  of the environment - which one cannot place a monetary value on.

We hope that the Department of Environment will also provide periodic information on the air quality in the country to the public.

Finally, Malaysians, especially those with a lackadaisical attitude towards open burning and air pollution, must be made accountable for their actions.
 

Mustafa K Anuar
Executive Committee Member
25 March 1998