The impact of forest fires<\/p>\n
Malaysians are a tolerant lot. But there is a limit to even
\nthis legendary patience when the consequences for health, the
\neconomy and quality of life are grave. And they are grave every
\ntime the pall of suffocating smoke visits the country from across
\nthe Malacca Strait.<\/p>\n
Businesses suffer, schools are closed, tourism plunges and
\nhealth problems soar. Malaysians are forced to make do
\nwithout their daily dosage of tea because they have to stay
\nindoors, and this is evident with food stalls seeing fewer
\ncustomers.<\/p>\n
The recurring haze has changed the lives of Malaysians as
\nquickly as it came. Families are forced to stay indoors. Many
\nhave left the Klang Valley for a longer weekend in
\nother parts of the country where the air is cleaner. Equally many
\nare at a loss as to what to do.<\/p>\n
Perhaps as frustrating as the muggy feeling is the sense of
\nhelplessness many Malaysians feel over the source of the haze --
\nthe forest fires in Indonesia -- and the denial and cavalier
\nattitude of some Indonesians toward the suffering here.<\/p>\n
Sadly, Malaysians have been on the receiving end of the haze
\nsince the 1997 episode. None of the proposals mooted since then
\nhave been implemented, not even in the good neighborly spirit of
\nthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations.<\/p>\n
\"I have no choice but to run away from Kuala Lumpur,\" quipped
\nS.M. Idris, the country's grand old man of consumerism. \"I mean,
\nhow can anyone breathe here. The haze has been a recurring
\nproblem for the past 20 years and yet we have not learned
\nanything,\" says the Penangite, his words imbued with obvious
\nsarcasm.<\/p>\n
How long are Malaysians going to suffer in silence? Where do
\nwe go from here? Should we accept this as fate and absolve the
\nIndonesians of any wrongdoing simply because they are powerless
\nagainst the fires?<\/p>\n
Perhaps we need to give serious thought to a remark by the
\nhead of the Environment Health Department at the Institute for
\nMedical Research, Dr. Stephen Ambu. During the same conference
\nwhere the transboundary haze agreement was signed, he warned that
\nthe emissions of sulphur dioxide, harmful particulate matter and
\nother chemical pollutants would increase drastically in the
\nregion by 2005 if member nations did not abide by the agreement.<\/p>\n
This today sounds prophetic.<\/p>\n
SAZAINDRAIS BIN SAJIT
\nSelangor, Malaysia<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-impact-of-forest-fires-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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