Haze: Johor assemblyman slams Indonesia over 'we send oxygen' remarks

JOHOR BARU: Stulang assemblyman Andrew Chen Kah Eng has criticised an Indonesian government official for saying the country's forests also supply oxygen to neighbouring countries amid the transboundary haze.

Chen said the remarks trivialised the health concerns of Malaysians affected by the haze, particularly the suggestion that forest and land fires were a natural phenomenon.

"Describing the forest fires causing transboundary haze as a natural phenomenon and Malaysians' health concerns as a joke is unacceptable.

"Access to clean air is an immediate and non-negotiable human right.

"The United Nations and Asean declarations recognise the right to a clean, safe and healthy environment.

"The Indonesian spokesperson should apologise to Indonesians and all affected Asean countries for allowing haze pollution to expose their neighbours to toxic PM2.5.

"We Malaysians are suffering, yet you are making fun of our health. The health and lives of the people should never be treated as a joke," he said in a statement today.

Chen said the right to breathe clean air must be respected as people across the region continued to face the effects of the pollution.

His remarks followed a statement by Indonesian Government Communications Agency head Syahganda Nainggolan, who said Malaysia and Singapore should understand that the forest and land fires behind the haze were beyond human control and constituted a natural phenomenon.

In a video clip that went viral yesterday, Syahganda said Indonesia maintained good diplomatic relations with Malaysia and continued to brief both countries on the fires and efforts to address them.

He also said Indonesia did not merely send smoke to its neighbours but provided oxygen through its vast forests when there was no haze.

Neighbouring countries affected by the transboundary haze have called for stronger action to prevent land and forest fires and hold those responsible accountable.