For two months, Malaysians have been forced to endure thick smog blanketing the entire country due to massive wildfires occurring in Indonesia, which has led to many stricken with eye and respiratory illnesses and schools closing.
Despite the health and environmental damage caused by the haze, Indonesian officials have expressed little regret, with some even making flippant remarks about the yearly issue.
‘We are suffering!’
In an impassioned Facebook post by Stulang assemblyperson Andrew Chen, he directed his ire and disappointment towards the glaring lack of responsibility and accountability shown by Indonesian officials.
He added that access to clean air “is an immediate, non-negotiable human right” that no country has the prerogative to deny or violate.
“Indonesian spokespersons should stop being unapologetic to all affected ASEAN countries and its own nations for allowing human-made haze pollution and poison its neighbors with toxic particle PM2.5. Indonesian authority must be held accountable.
We Malaysians are suffering and yet you are making fun of our health. This is unacceptable. The health and lives of the people should never be treated as a joke.”
Chen’s criticism comes after Indonesia’s Government Communications Agency (Bakom) head, Syahganda Nainggolan brushed aside Malaysia and Singapore’s gripe about the haze crisis.
In a viral clip, he claimed that the wildfires were caused by natural factors which were “beyond human errors”.
To top it off, Syahganda even chided neighbouring countries for complaining about the haze, adding that Indonesia’s forests had provided oxygen for them when there was no haze.
Malaysia has also offered its help in combatting the wildfires but has yet to receive an official response from Indonesia.
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