NEW YORK: The current international system is such that nothing could be done to compel Indonesia to deal with its forest fires, which affect the region every now and then, said Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Wednesday (Sep 25).
“You can blame Indonesia, you can criticise them but they'll continue to have their fires,” he said.
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Dr Mahathir was fielding questions at the World Leaders Forum at Columbia University, as part of his visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
The prime minister was asked whether stronger actions such as economic sanctions, or leveraging the international community to speak up against Indonesia would help address the haze problem, given the gravity of the situation.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad fields questions at the World Leaders Forum at Columbia University in New York. (Photo: Facebook/Dr Mahathir Mohamad)
In his reply, he drew a parallel with the forest fires that occurred in Brazil.
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"As you know the new president of Brazil believes in burning the forest for more agriculture (activities), and nobody has stopped him yet. So I think the system does not allow us to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries,” he said.
READ: Regional haze eases for the moment as rain brings relief to Indonesias Sumatra, Kalimantan
Dr Mahathir noted that there will come a time when forest fires would become so severe that the whole world would be enveloped by haze.
"At that time I think the United Nations (UN) might say, well, this is not a national problem, this is not a domestic affair (any longer), this is a problem for the world (to resolve) and that the world should exercise the right to take action.
"If we have that frame of mind, then we can do something when somebody refuses to accept help to put out the fires, for example," he said.
Dr Mahathir said that at this moment, “the UN can do nothing, but we should try persuasion."
READ: Malaysian environment minister brushes off calls for resignation amid alleged conflict of interest in handling haze issue
Malaysia, which was choked by haRead More – Source
