Suffering Malaysians unhappy with Indonesia

NST: PUTRAJAYA: The haze has caused much resentment and hardship among Malaysians.
Health Minister Datuk Sri Dr Chua Soi Lek said it also had implications for tourism and economic activities, such as hawking, night markets and outdoor activities.
"The Indonesian government is fully aware of the problem created in Asia, especially in Singapore and Malaysia, its immediate neighbours. We hope Jakarta will be more proactive in solving the problem which has become an annual affair."
He advised that outdoor activities be minimised and those in the high-risk group, such as the elderly, asthmatic patients, heart patients and those who suffer from chronic bronchitis, to exercise care and seek medical advice should they encounter breathing difficulties.
He said in Sibu, Sarawak, there were 13 cases of respiratory illnesses linked to the haze.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said all Asean countries must work together in pooling their expertise and resources to stop the haze from recurring.
"Malaysia wants agreements that have been signed pertaining to action to overcome the problem to be translated into some form of action.
"There is no way one single country can overcome this problem. The burning must stop," he said.
"Even if Indonesia ratified the transboundary agreement on haze, if the burning does not stop or we do not work together to prevent it, it is not going to solve the matter."
The Department of Environment’s statistics revealed 14 areas in peninsular Malaysia that were reported to be "unhealthy" according to the Air Pollutants Index (API).
The worst hit area was Nilai, Negri Sembilan, with a reading of 194, followed by Sri Manjung, Perak, (183) and Seremban, Negri Sembilan (181).
Six areas in Selangor with high API readings are Kuala Selangor (181), Country Heights Kajang (158), Shah Alam (145), Petaling Jaya (139), Port Klang (131) and Gombak (127).
Other areas include two in Malacca — Bukit Rambai (131) and Malacca (110), and SK Jalan Pegoh, Ipoh (113).
The API in Kuala Lumpur rose from 80 on Sunday to 159 yesterday, while in Putrajaya, the reading was 171 (98).
The situation in Sarawak had improved with the API below 100 in 10 areas.
Visibility in the Petaling Jaya area and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang fell below 1km — to 0.8km and 0.5km respectively — at 10am yesterday, while in Subang and Mersing, Johor, it was between 1km and 2km.
No commercial flights were interrupted at major airports in the country, but those involving small aeroplanes and helicopters experienced delays or cancellations due to poor visibility.
Department of Civil Aviation director-general Datuk Kok Soo Chon said yesterday all flights departed and arrived as scheduled, including at the KLIA.
"Air traffic controllers, however, are on the alert. Should visibility for runways falls below 300 metres, air traffic controllers can stop the flights from landing and taking off."