‘Clean air not a luxury’: Manufacturers in Malaysia demand Asean accelerate haze-free roadmap
The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers is calling for urgent regional action from Asean to address the recurring transboundary haze. The group argues that the pollution is severely impacting public health and economic productivity, and demands better use of technology for monitoring.
Why it matters
Highlights the tension between industrial economic growth and the urgent need for environmental sustainability in Southeast Asia.
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has pressed for decisive, measurable regional action from Asean to eliminate transboundary haze, warning that recurring pollution inflicts severe damage on public health, worker safety, and economic productivity.
The industrial group issued the appeal as severe haze blanketed the country, with Department of Environment (DOE) data recording 38 out of 68 national monitoring stations in the unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) bracket this morning, led by Seremban at 186.
In a statement today, FMM president Jacob Lee Chor Kok stressed that industrial and economic expansion must not come at the expense of environmental sustainability.
“Clean air is not a luxury. It is a fundamental requirement for public health, economic productivity and sustainable development,” the statement said.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in