Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for an urgent ASEAN ministerial meeting to coordinate regional action against worsening haze, as Malaysia steps up efforts to tackle deteriorating air quality and growing public health concerns.
Anwar said he had instructed Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan to contact the ASEAN Secretariat again to expedite the meeting, particularly to strengthen Indonesia’s efforts to address the sources of the haze.
He stressed that the increasingly severe haze situation was deeply concerning, especially its impact on public health, and required swift, coordinated action across the region.
Anwar revealed that he had previously contacted Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who agreed to take the necessary measures to address the situation.
However, Anwar stressed that Indonesia’s commitment must be followed by immediate and effective action to tackle the underlying causes of the haze.
Malaysia, he added, stands ready to cooperate with Indonesia in efforts to resolve the problem.
Meanwhile, Anwar said the government was intensifying domestic measures to combat the haze, including cloud-seeding operations by relevant agencies.
He reiterated that stronger regional coordination was essential to protecting public health and well-being, underscoring the need for ASEAN countries to respond collectively to the worsening situation.
