'We M'sians are suffering': Johor politician criticises Indonesian spokespersons for being 'unapologetic'

Johor Bahru politician Andrew Chen has urged Indonesia to take responsibility for transboundary haze and apologise to affected Asean countries.

The DAP politician and member of the Johor state legislature's remarks came after an Indonesian government official said forest fires were "beyond human error".

He also said Indonesian forests supplied oxygen to neighbouring countries when there was no haze.

People’s health should not be treated as a joke

In a Facebook post on Oct. 12, Chen described access to clean air as an immediate, non-negotiable human right.

Chen is a member of the DAP, which is still part of the governing coalition of Malaysia's Madani government, although there have been recent tensions with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. However, he is a state politician and not a Member of Parliament.

He pointed to declarations by the United Nations and Asean recognising a clean, safe and healthy environment as a universal human right.

Chen said Indonesian spokespersons should stop being unapologetic towards affected Asean countries and their own people over human-made haze pollution.

He also criticised Indonesian authorities for allowing haze containing toxic PM2.5 particles to affect neighbouring countries, calling for them to be held accountable.

“We Malaysians are suffering and yet you are making fun of our health.

This is unacceptable. The health and lives of the people should never be treated as a joke.”

Responding to Indonesian official’s remarks

Chen’s statement comes in response to remarks made by Indonesia’s head of Government Communications Agency, Syahganda Nainggolan, on Oct. 10.

Nainggolan said Indonesia understood Malaysia’s and Singapore’s concerns about haze caused by forest and land fires in his country.

However, he made a comment about Singapore and Malaysia receiving oxygen from Indonesia's forests, which sparked criticism online.

“We're not just sending over the haze. When there's no haze, we send oxygen,” he told the media.

Nainggolan described the fires as “beyond human error” and a natural phenomenon, asking neighbouring countries to understand the situation.