印尼霾害将影响两国外交关系
士都兰区州议员曾笳恩指出，印尼每年烧芭活动造成区域霾害，已让邻近国家深受其害，若印尼当局再不尽快采取行动，恐将影响印尼与马来西亚两国的外交关系。
他表示，烟霾问题是一项重大课题，不只是印尼的内部事务，而是影响生活在邻国的人民。
“事实上，对印尼当地人而言，烧毁森林和田野不会带来任何短期和长期利益，烟霾问题影响当地经济，经济活动停摆造成巨大损失，所引起的卫生问题也使印尼政府负担沉重。”
印尼霾害日趋严重，新马各地都殃及池鱼，我国数个地区因空气污染指数破表，政府临时宣布停课，海陆交通因烟霾笼罩而受影响，每年从印尼苏门答腊和加里曼丹随风向飘来的烟霾，对社会各层面影响甚钜。
致函大使馆吁尽速解决
有鉴于此，士都兰区州议员曾笳恩特致函予印尼驻马大使馆，要求印尼政府正视区域霾害危机，尽速解决影响邻国及周边区域的霾害，以让区域居民享受干净空气和健康环境。
他指出，虽然印尼在今年1月已正式与东盟秘书长签署《东盟跨国界烟霾污染协议》，但有研究指出，该协议有关解决争端和惩罚违规的机制很薄弱，没有规定签约国违反其义务的具体制裁。
“因此，印尼作为主要污染国，既然已通过立法禁止烧荒，应严格执法，严惩涉及非法烧芭的公司，以及严禁农民烧芭。据了解，涉及烧芭公司每年烧毁大面积森林，以种植用于生产棕榈油和造纸的木材。”
吁减低碳排放与执行零焚烧政策
他提到，印尼政府曾经承诺缩减温室气体的排放量至41%，但印尼因森林砍伐和土地用途改变而贡献高达80%的二氧化碳排放量，缩减温室气体排放量的承诺根本无法达成。
他呼吁印尼政府，应执行“零焚烧政策”，在森林法案、种植法案、环境保护和管理法案下，以大规模方式展开严厉执法，进行森林管治，采用法律对付非法烧芭的大公司。
“就如其他环保分子提出的建议，针对烧芭农民，政府可提供技术和经济援助，如提供种子、肥料等，鼓励使用替代方式清理森林，获取田地农耕。”
呼吁我国政府制定霾害危机机制
另一方面，针对我国政府，曾笳恩提到，由于霾害已成为区域每年固定会发生的人为灾害，政府应正视霾害问题，建立应对霾害危机的系统机制，以更好宣导人民面对霾害对生活的影响。
“例如，政府应有效建立停课机制，密切关注和准确预测空气污染指数，以便政府能有效宣布应急计划。”
“另外，个人也需注意空气情况，若空气污染恶化，应勤于携带口罩，防止吸入有害空气。”
曾笳恩也在傍晚时分到新山Bakar Batu夜市派发口罩，吁请民众多注意身体健康，多喝水，减少外出和避免户外活动。
Haze crisis affects diplomatic relations
Stulang State Assemblyman Chen Kah Eng pointed out that if Indonesian Government does not resolve regional haze crisis as soon as possible, the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries will be affected.
“This haze crisis is a huge regional problem which is not an internal matter for Indonesia only. It has affected the lives of people in neighbouring countries. This issue should be resolved wisely and effectively.”
He said, in fact, burning forests and fields does not bring any benefit in short and long term for the locals. Instead, the dangerous haze problem affects local economic activities and brings losses to Indonesia economy. Besides, local health problems also become heavy burden to Indonesian Government.
Singapore and Malaysia are suffering from Indonesia haze crisis. While haze crisis is getting worse, air pollution index in several areas in Malaysia has reached the critical level, forcing Malaysian government to make announcement that schools to be closed temporarily due to high level of air pollution.
At the meantime, land and sea transport are affected by haze from Sumatra and Kalimantan as well. Indonesia haze crisis has affected all levels of society with huge impact.
Memorandun is sent to Indonesian Embassy
In view of this matter, Chen Kah Eng had written a memorandum to Indonesian Embassy in Malaysia to request the Indonesian authorities to address the serious deterioration of air quality caused by regional haze crisis and solve the severe haze impact in its neighbouring countries and regions as soon as possible in order to allow regional residents to enjoy cleaner air and healthier environment.
He noted that while Indonesia had formally signed the “ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution” with ASEAN Secretary-General in January this year, but study has pointed out that the agreement on the mechanism to resolve disputes and punish violation is weak. And, there is no specific sanctions to be imposed against signatories breach of its obligations.
“Therefore, Indonesia as the major polluter, since She had passed legislation on prohibiting burning, She should strictly enforce the law and punish the companies involved in illegal forests burning, as well as prohibit farmers from burning forests as an agricultural tool for land clearing. It was understood that involved companies burn large areas of forest annually are to grow plantation for the production of palm oil and paper timber.”
Reduction of GHG emissions and Zero Burning Policy
He mentioned that the Indonesian Government had promised to reduce greenhouse gas emissions up to 41%, but due to deforestation and land use change in forestry sector, Indonesia had contirbuted up to 80% emissions of carbon. “In the end, the greenhouse gas emissions reduction commitments could not be achieved by the Indonesian Government.”
He calls the Indonesian Government to implement strict policy on “Zero Burning Policy” under their Forestry Act, Plantation Act and Environmental Protection and Management Act. Strict law enforcement by Indonesian government in a widespread scale in forest governance should be practiced to deal with illegal forests burning.
As suggested by many environmental activists, the farmers who engage in forest burning, the government can provide technical and financial assistance, such as provisions of seeds, fertilizer etc., to encourage the use of alternative ways to clean up the forest in getting farming land.
Local government should implement haze crisis mechanism
On the other hand, for Malaysian Government, Chen Kah Eng reminded that while the haze has become a man-made regional disaster occurring anually, the government should address the haze problem seriously and establish a systematic mechanism to deal with haze crisis. This is to raise public awareness in facing the impacts of haze on people’s daily life.
“For example, the government should establish an effective mechanism to call on halt on any outdoor activities or school classes. Government should also pay attention closely and predict accurately on air pollution index so that the authorities can announce any contingency plan accurately and effectively.”
“Besides, individuals also need to pay attention to air condition. If the deterioration of air is getting worse, everyone should wear mask always to prevent from inhalation of harmful air.”
To promote public awareness on health, Chen Kah Eng distributed masks at Bakar Batu night market in this evening to remind people paying more attention to respiratory system and drinking plenty of water. He also advised people to avoid going out and engaging in outdoor activities.
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Mr. Herman Prayitno
Duta Besar Luar Biasa dan Berkuasa Penuh
Kedutaan Besar Republik Indonesia Kuala Lumpur
No. 233, Jalan Tun Razak
P.O. Box 10889
Kuala Lumpur 50400
Malaysia. 18/09/2015
Fax No.: 03-21417908
Tuan,
Masalah Jerebu di Malayia dan Rantau Asia
Berkenaan dengan perkara di atas, Malaysia kini dilandai masalah jerebu yang teruk akibat aktiviti pembakaran di Indonesia.
Sebagai seorang wakil rakyat di Johor, saya meminta jasa baik Kerajaan Indonesia untuk menyelesaikan masalah jerebu ini yang melibatkan negara jiran dan serantau.
Pada pendapat saya, masalah jerebu ini merupakan masalah yang besar di mana ia bukan merupakan isu dalaman Indonesia sahaja. Ia telah mempengaruhi kehidupan rakyat di negara jiran. Isu ini perlu diselesaikan dengan bijak dan berkesan, kerana ia juga melibatkan hubungan diplomatik di antara dua negara.
Sebenarnya, aktiviti pembakaran hutan dan ladang ini tidak membawa apa-apa faedah baik dari segi jangka pendek atau panjang kepada penduduk tempatan. Masalah jerebu yang berbahaya ini juga mempengaruhi aktiviti ekonomi setempat Indonesia di mana ia juga mengakibatkan kerugian yang banyak kerana banyak aktiviti ekonomi terpaksa dihentikan. Masalah kesihatan setempat yang ditimbulkan juga membawa beban yang berat kepada Kerajaan Indonesia.
Justeru it, saya menyeru kepada pihak Indonesia agar :
1. Menyelesaikan masalah pembakaran dan jerebu ini dengan cepat tanpa melengah-lengahkan masa
2. Menguatkuasakan undang-undang dengan tegas agar mereka yang melanggar undang-undang dan melakukan pembakaran haram akan dihukum.
3. Memperbaiki atau menggubal undang-undang yang berkesan dalam menagani isu ini.
4. Menunaikan janji untuk mengurangkan tahap pembebasan karbon dioksida Indonesia.
Diharapkan pihak Indonesia akan mengambil langkah-langkah yang sesuai dan berkesan agar masalah jerebu ini dapat diselesaikan dan tidak berulang lagi pada masa yang akan datang.
Sekian, terima kasih.
Yang benar,
_________________
YB CHEN KAH ENG
Ahli Dewan Negeri Johor, STULANG
