The Star Online: Nation

Haze: Jakarta must act against firms causing haze, says PM
Haze: Indonesia's president Yudhoyono apologises for haze
Haze: Kuala Lumpur, Selangor schools back to normal Tuesday, Klang to remain closed

Haze: Jakarta must act against firms causing haze, says PM

Posted: 24 Jun 2013 08:28 AM PDT

Published: Monday June 24, 2013 MYT 11:23:00 PM
Updated: Monday June 24, 2013 MYT 11:28:59 PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya wants Jakarta to take firm action against companies that are causing the haze, regardless of their ownership.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he will send a letter to President Bambang Susilo Yudhoyono to urge the Indonesia government to act against the culprits.

"It does not matter if the companies are Malaysian, Singapore or Indonesian-owned. Action must be taken against those who are causing the haze," he said after chairing the Barisan Nasional supreme council meeting.

Najib said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G.Palanivel would meet with his Indonesian counterpart on Wednesday to discuss on the haze issue.

Malaysia, he said, would also offer Indonesia the service of its water bomber planes to help put out the fires.

Haze: Indonesia's president Yudhoyono apologises for haze

Posted: 24 Jun 2013 08:34 AM PDT

JAKARTA: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (pix) has apologised for the haze that had blanketed Singapore and Malaysia in recent days and continues to remain a threat in coming days.

"For what has happened, as President, I say sorry and seek the understanding of our relatives in Singapore and Malaysia," he said.

"Indonesia had no intention to cause this. And we will continue to bear responsibility to overcome what has happened," he said in a televised press conference at his office on Monday evening.

Dr Yudhoyono's comments came as Indonesia stepped up its response to the haze with forest fires in Riau continuing to spread, amid efforts to control them by cloud-seeding and water-bombing, and after some of his ministers had hit out at neighbouring countries' reactions to the haze.

"There are statements from several office-holders that I feel need not be put across that way," he said.

"Sometimes the facts have not been checked, and that becomes an issue. This has become a concern from Singapore and also Malaysia," he added.

"There are statements that contradict one another. I have instructed officers that there is no need to give statements like these."

"If there are companies at fault whether they are from Indonesia, or foreign companies, there's no need to say that," he added.

"What is needed is to focus all efforts on overcoming the haze and burning. Enforcement action will continue we leave that to police and the authorities. There is no need to discriminate."

"Whether it is an Indonesian company or foreign company, the law will be applied firmly and fairly," he said. - The Straits Times/ANN

Haze: Kuala Lumpur, Selangor schools back to normal Tuesday, Klang to remain closed

Posted: 24 Jun 2013 08:37 AM PDT

Published: Monday June 24, 2013 MYT 10:20:00 PM
Updated: Monday June 24, 2013 MYT 11:37:04 PM

PETALING JAYA: All schools in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor will reopen tomorrow (Tuesday) while those in Klang to remain closed in view of the worsening haze there.

This was confirmed in a short messaging service (SMS) reply by Education Ministry director-general Tan Sri Abdul Ghafar Mahmud to a query from The Star.

"All schools in KL and Selangor will be reopened tomorrow except for schools in Klang district. Tq," he said.

The Air Pollutant Index (API) for Port Klang touched the 319 mark making the district a hazardous area.

Abdul Ghafar was responding to calls received by The Star as to whether schools in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, which were closed on Monday, would be back to normal tomorrow (Tuesday).

Earlier, Abdul Ghafar said in a statement that all schools located in areas where the API reading is 300 and above must close.

Schools in areas with API reading below 250 should stay open.

The state education department has to refer to the ministry in areas where the API is between 250 and 300.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Isnin, 24 Jun 2013