Govt explores special fund for haze-related environmental recovery

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is prepared to study a proposal to establish a special fund for environmental rehabilitation following haze incidents.

Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said further discussions would be held with the relevant ministries and agencies.

The study would take into account existing assistance mechanisms, actual needs and the financial implications for the government.

He said funding mechanisms for haze management should not focus solely on rehabilitation after an incident, but should cover the entire risk management cycle.

This includes prevention, the use of monitoring technology, peatland management, early firefighting, research and the rehabilitation of affected areas.

"The government is prepared to study the need for and appropriate funding mechanisms. This matter requires further consideration with the relevant ministries and agencies.

"The government believes that funding mechanisms for haze should not focus solely on post-incident rehabilitation, but should also support the entire risk management cycle," he said.

Arthur was responding to a question from Dr Ahmad Fakhruddin Fakhrurazi (PN-Kuala Kedah) on the country's long-term preparedness plan for transboundary haze and the proposal to establish a special post-haze environmental rehabilitation fund.

His response was contained in a written reply published on the parliament website.

On regional efforts, Arthur said Malaysia also supported strengthening the Asean Transboundary Haze Pollution Control Fund, also known as the Asean Haze Fund.

This includes efforts to broaden its sources of contributions and expand the scope of its use.

He said the fund could support scientific research, capacity-building, preventive innovations, firefighting efforts and science diplomacy.

To improve early warnings of air pollution in high-risk areas, the Environment Department (DOE) continuously monitors air quality through 68 automatic monitoring stations nationwide.

Arthur said the stations measured concentrations of air pollutants, allowing the Air Pollutant Index (API) to be monitored and reported continuously.

This would help authorities detect rising pollution levels at an earlier stage.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) also provides information through the Fire Danger Rating System (FDRS) for Malaysia and the Asean region.

The system assesses and monitors forest and peatland fire risks based on weather conditions and environmental factors.

"The system provides fire risk forecasts up to seven days ahead, helping relevant agencies identify areas at risk of fire and implement preparedness and early prevention measures.

"MetMalaysia also developed and launched the Malaysian Community Multiscale Air Quality Model (MyCMAQ) on March 31.

"It provides regular, high-resolution forecasts of air quality conditions and atmospheric pollutant concentrations in Malaysia and Southeast Asia," he said.

Arthur said the integrated use of the three systems enabled the government to monitor changes in air quality, identify areas at high risk of fires and anticipate potential haze pollution.

The information also served as a basis for coordinating preventive measures, field monitoring, enforcement and public health advisories.

These efforts were particularly important in areas at risk of forest and peatland fires, as well as transboundary haze.