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Wildfires Choke Kuala Lumpur: PM Contacts Indonesian President
9 Oct
Summary
- Malaysian PM contacted Indonesian President regarding wildfire smog.
- Kuala Lumpur air quality ranked world's worst, schools closed.
- Malaysia seeks regional talks and stronger laws to combat haze.
Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has engaged Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to address the severe haze blanketing the nation, caused by extensive wildfires in neighboring archipelagos. Air quality in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, has been classified as 'very unhealthy,' and the city was recently deemed the most polluted globally.
In response to the crisis, schools in Johor, a southern Malaysian state, were closed for several days, impacting approximately 617,000 students. The Malaysian government is actively seeking to expedite discussions with Indonesia for joint fire-fighting efforts and is also proposing a meeting of regional environment ministers to tackle the transboundary environmental damage collectively.
Flights at Senai International Airport in Johor experienced disruptions due to reduced visibility. Environmental groups are advocating for stronger domestic legislation and enhanced ASEAN cooperation to combat the fires and hold responsible parties accountable. Efforts are underway to balance accountability with support for those protecting forests and farmlands.
