More action needed to overcome fires

From Merdeka

The haze resulting from forest fires is seemingly not so easy to overcome. And it even tends to worsen with the increasing density of haze over Kalimantan and Sumatra.

The problem has been handled by the offices of the Minister for Environmental Affairs and Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare. Still, I have doubts about the success of the outcome. It has now spread to Sulawesi and also to neighboring countries, including Singapore and Malaysia.

Thus it is no longer an ordinary case and must be declared a national disaster. For nearly a month now the people who are affected have not been able to do any work and it causes great losses in terms of economy and health.

I suggest that the government should increase its efforts if necessary by sending airplanes to quell the forest fires.

BUDI JATMIKO

Jakarta