JOHOR BARU: Indonesia says it is committed to curbing the annual haze-related issues, including setting up a coordinating centre to streamline resources.
The centre, dubbed the Asean Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (ACC THPC), will facilitate faster and more effective implementation of all aspects of the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.
Indonesia’s Deputy Environment and Forestry Minister Alue Dohong (pic) said the ACC THPC was an initial step towards the development of an early warning system that would be more innovative.
“The ACC THPC was introduced in Jakarta in September this year, with which we aim to prevent any transboundary pollution in the future.
“This year, based on our data and the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), there is no transboundary link from Indonesia to Malaysia and Singapore,” he said when met after giving a speech at Asia Pacific Climate Week (APCW) 2023 at the Persada International Convention Centre here yesterday.
The coordinating centre would also provide effective mobilisation of resources in the region and more coordinated efforts among the Asean countries, he said.
Alue said the Indonesian government had also introduced very stern penalties for companies that were found to be involved in open burning.
“We will take stern action against the culprits in terms of financial sanctions and revoking their licence to operate.”
Alue also said the companies that had been fined were also required to do restoration work on the areas that were damaged or destroyed by the fires.
