Malaysia to ink new MoU with Indonesia to tackle haze
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Malaysia is set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indonesia to implement measures to curb peat soil fires that have contributed to transborder haze.
Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dr James Dawos Mamit said the initiative was aimed at helping the country’s Indonesian counterparts in Riau, Sumatra in preventing peat fire outbreaks during the annual dry season. “The timeframe under the present MoU will end this year and we will be signing a new agreement soon.
“I will personally travel to Sumatra for the purpose and also to evaluate peat conditions there,” he said in answer to a question by Dr Michael Jayekumar Devaraj in Parliament yesterday.
Dawos said that outbreaks of peat fires, particularly in the Riau province, were common during the dry spell owing to ground surface water loss.
He said extensive peat soil studies done in Sarawak three years ago would also provide Indonesia with better knowhow on dealing with the problem more effectively.
“As a preventive measure, we have helped authorities in Riau to build 10 check dams aimed at maintaining ground surface water for peat soil,” he added.He said there are plans to assist Indonesia in tackling the haze problem under the proposed MoU.
