By DayakDaily Team
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Aug 22: Malaysia will turn to the ASEAN mechanism to address transboundary haze as unhealthy air quality continues to affect Sarawak and other parts of the region.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia and Brunei had agreed that the ASEAN mechanism was the best option to address the issue.
“We both agreed to use the ASEAN mechanism as the best option. We have asked Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan to manage this issue,” he said.
Anwar said the matter was discussed with Brunei Sultan Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah during the 27th Annual Leaders’ Consultation (ALC-27) here today.
The agreement comes as several areas in Sarawak recorded unhealthy Air Pollution Index (API) readings this morning.
According to the Air Pollution Index Management System (APIMS), Serian recorded an API reading of 190 as of 9am, followed by Kuching at 182 and Samarahan at 177.
Sarikei and Sri Aman each recorded 173, while Sibu recorded 161. Bintulu, Samalaju and Mukah recorded 157, 156 and 156 respectively, while Miri recorded 151.
Bukit Rambai in Melaka also recorded an unhealthy reading of 151.
Anwar said Malaysia had tasked Mohamad to manage the issue through the ASEAN mechanism.
Yesterday, Mohamad said Malaysia would use diplomatic channels at the ASEAN level to seek a solution to the transboundary haze issue, with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) expected to submit an official letter to the ASEAN Secretariat.
The haze issue was among matters discussed during Anwar’s two-day working visit to Brunei, which included the ALC-27 with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. —BERNAMA
