'Hands-on' plan to fight Asean haze

The Straits Times, March 5, 2007


PETALING JAYA - AFTER countless talks over the past 11 years, Asean has finally come up with the most tangible plan so far to fight the region's annual haze problem.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Azmi Khalid told The Star yesterday Singapore and Malaysia had offered to help Indonesia execute a 'hands-on' approach in problematic provinces.

He said Indonesia had asked Malaysia to 'take care' of Riau province if a capacity-building model that Singapore was currently trying out in the Jambi province proved successful.

'Finally, all the talking has ended and the real work is being carried out,' he said.

Datuk Azmi also said the meeting had set a target of US$500,000 (S$764,000) for a newly launched fund to control trans-boundary haze. The money will be used for studies or to source for experts, and not for any physical developments.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK