Mahathir vows to fight haze

Mahathir vows to fight haze

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday Malaysia would work with its neighbors to fight the haze blanketing part of the region and ensure the Commonwealth Games would not be affected.

"It will not be an easy task to handle but we are sure that we can reduce the amount of haze," Mahathir was quoted as saying by the government news agency Bernama.

Smoke from wild fires in parts of Malaysia have covered some areas with thick smoke, shutting airports and schools periodically over the last two months.

The haze, fueled by a regional drought, is expected to worsen when seasonal winds change direction and send smoke from Indonesia's raging fires billowing into Malaysia.