IN 2016, the then government proposed to seize lands razed as a result of slash-and-burn techniques often used by palm oil plantations.

Unfortunately, the idea was dropped in 2020.

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) calls on the present government to consider the threat of seizing land as one possible measure to minimise air pollution and transboundary smoke.

Large-scale burning, particularly during hot weather and the monsoon transition period, causes pollution from suspended smoke and dust particles in dry air.

The current situation in Malaysia’s northern states is attributed to wind movement that brought polluted air from hotspots in the Mekong subregion comprising Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand.

Peat fires and open burning, resulting from the resumption of economic activities post Covid-19, also contribute to the problem.

We urge Malaysia to emulate Singapore’s enactment of its Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014, which enables the Singapore government to sue companies that cause transboundary environmental pollution.

There is the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution that was signed in 2002 by all 10 member countries, including Malaysia.

Under the agreement, the governments are committed to taking measures to mitigate the problem. Regrettably, this commitment has been ignored.

Malaysia has to consider the volume of greenhouse gas emissions from open burning besides smoke.

Thus, it is not only the inter-monsoon season that is worrying, greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide help trap heat in the atmosphere.

The result of which can be devastating, such as crop failure and subsequent food shortages.

Every measure taken to reduce or eliminate air pollution is important because the world is now experiencing a climate crisis.

Thus, transboundary smoke is only one of the concerns with which me must grapple.

It took more than 100 years of research and data to convince the scientific community about climate change.

It will need everybody’s effort to support the scientific community in addressing the global climate crisis issues.

In the Climate Risk Country Profile: Malaysia by the World Bank Group (WBG) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the report warns that Malaysia will experience a rise in the number of heat waves and their intensity due to a warming climate.

The report also states that flooding will contribute “more damage than any other (natural hazards) the country experiences”.

Policymakers should seriously read this report to plan ahead for urban development and the agriculture sector, because the predicted trends of global warming are going to impact the existing infrastructure and plans.

For example, the sea might claim seaside villages, while wider and deeper drains are needed for flood mitigation.

Global warming will cause more severe changes in weather patterns thus calling for a tougher stance by the government against slash-and-burn operations.

We reiterate our call for the government to seize lands where slash-and-burn operations take place and to legislate the ability to take companies to court for transboundary pollution. – April 26, 2023.

* Mohideen Abdul Kader is president of the Consumers’ Association of Penang.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.