Asean Bracing For Haze Recurrence

Bandar Seri Begawan - The haze may be making a comeback later this year, and affected Asean countries should be on continued alert and readiness and work together to tackle potential land and forest fires.

This was stated by several of the region's ministers responsible for the environment in a media release issued yesterday.

The statement quoted the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre's prediction that the La Nina will gradually weaken and dissipate in the third quarter of 2008. "This could lead to drier periods and the possibility of escalating hotspot activities during the coming dry season," it read.

Ministers from Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand were in Putrajaya, NJalaysia to discuss the haze in the fourth sub-regional ministerial steering committee meeting on transboundary haze pollution.

Realising the likely occurrence of the haze, they agreed to be vigilant and undertake preventive and mitigation efforts.

La Nina describes abnormally cool sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean that recur every few years. Each recurrence can last for up to two years. The recurrence of the haze cannot be avoided, Indonesian Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar said.

"We are not going to delude ourselves that we are going to wipe out all the haze. There will be burning, some haze," he was quoted as saying. "We have to prepare for the worst and hope for the best."

Smoke haze is a near-yearly menace affecting the Asean region, particularly Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.

The severe 1997 haze episode compelled the creation of several institutional mechanisms to tackle land and forest fire problems. The transboundary natures of haze have also necessitated collaboration and cooperation between the affected countries in the region. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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