Visit Malaysia 2007!

As we all know, next year is Visit Malaysia Year (for those who don't, now you know).

Unfortunately...

Expect haze in July, says Azmi

PEKANBARU (Indonesia): The choking haze enveloping parts of the Asean region now may return between July and October next year, said Natural Resources and Environment Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid.

Speaking to Malaysian reporters at the end of a special meeting on regional haze that was attended by five Asean Environment ministers here yesterday, he said the meeting had a “promising” outcome but no guarantees could be made that it would happen again next year.

Come for the fun, stay for the haze?

“The agreements reached during the meeting will not be realised so soon ... at least not in the next one year. It would be too early.

“But at least we can be certain about how we are going to tackle the problem. Previously, neighbouring countries were helpless and could only hope that Indonesia would do something,” Azmi said.

Azmi described the Pekanbaru meeting as “successful” because there was clear commitment among the five Asean nations affected the most Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Brunei to prevent the recurrence of illegal forest fires in Kalimantan and south Sumatra, which were primarily responsible for the smoke that blanketed parts of Indonesia and its neighbours.

Indonesia had agreed to ratify a regional agreement on haze prevention during the meeting, which meant that in future, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and Singapore would be able to automatically send help to fight forest fires in the country, said Azmi.

Both Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar said Indonesia would ratify the agreement known as the Asean Transboundary Haze Pollution Agreement.

Source: The Star Online 16th October 2006

Well at least it's not all doom and gloom. There appears to be clear interest amongst all the ASEAN countries affected by the haze to minimise further reoccurences of the haze.

For now I just hope that the wind direction will change so that all Malaysians will be able to enjoy a haze free Deepavali and Hari Raya.