JELI, April 4 (Bernama) -- Malaysia should act as a facilitator in sharing expertise and experiences among ASEAN countries to address the issue of open burning in the region effectively.
Associate Professor Dr Norrimi Rosaida Awang from the Faculty of Earth Sciences at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) said it is essential to manage open burning effectively.
If not correctly handled, she said, the consequences of such fires can affect not only the country where they occur but also neighbouring nations.
She added that one of the most significant consequences observed in the past was air quality decline due to haze.
"As the ASEAN Chair, Malaysia has the advantage of elevating this issue to the regional level. The ASEAN Summit can serve as a platform for representatives from member countries to seek solutions with the assistance of relevant experts.
"Malaysia can also learn from countries which have succeeded in addressing the problem, like Singapore and Thailand, which have enforced stringent laws to combat open burning.
"These measures can be studied and adapted according to our country's needs," she told Bernama when met at UMK Jeli Campus recently.
Dr Norrimi Rosaida said air pollution affects not just health, causing respiratory issues and irritation to the skin and eyes - especially in children and the elderly - but also disrupts daily activities.
She said haze caused by open burning could also impact the aviation sector, as seen in 2019 when six flights at Sultan Azlan Shah Airport were cancelled due to severe haze.
According to her, one of the key topics that could be discussed at the regional level is the need for an early detection system to identify burning incidents more swiftly.
"If fires can be detected earlier, control and extinguishing measures can be carried out faster and more effectively, thereby reducing the affected area’s scale," she said.
She said UMK Jeli Campus had developed an air quality monitoring station that continuously evaluates air pollution levels in Malaysia.
"With innovations like this, public health quality can be enhanced, and the risks of haze and its adverse effects can be reduced. However, Malaysia currently only has 65 air quality monitoring stations, with just two in Kelantan—one in Kota Bharu and another in Tanah Merah," she added.
-- BERNAMA
