KUCHING: The issue of transboundary haze must be addressed through government channels as well as established regional and diplomatic mechanisms.

Deputy Premier of Sarawak, who is also the Chairman of the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, noted that there is concern among the people of Sarawak as though no efforts were being made to address the issue with parties in Kalimantan.

However, he highlighted that the issue is a diplomatic matter that needs to be handled through proper government channels and regional mechanisms.

"I must emphasise that this is a diplomatic issue because in Malaysia, we have the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.

"In the past, I was the Minister of Environment and I was part of those efforts, so when the hot and dry season occurs as it is now and haze happens, that is the platform to discuss ways to overcome this problem," he said.

He said this during a SDMC press conference on the haze situation at Wisma Bapa Malaysia, here on Monday.

According to him, discussions have been held with the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, who informed that the matter would also be brought up through relevant committees at the Federal level.

He added that Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg had also discussed this haze issue during a recent programme in Brunei Darussalam.

"So, if there are statements saying that we will go to Kalimantan to negotiate, I think that is an inaccurate representation.

"We are using diplomatic channels and I am confident we will be able to resolve the problem," he added. — UKASnews

Prepared by: Ahmad Daniel Faiz
Photos: Ibanez Jeffery
Translator: Ryan Lim