Action urged against culprits behind Asian fires

KUALA LUMPUR – Asean officials yesterday pressed for tough action against those responsible for forest fires in Indonesia which have sent a choking haze over Malaysia and Thailand in recent weeks.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) senior officials meeting in Malaysia’s Penang island warned that dry weather and monsoon winds meant the smog could worsen if the fires were not controlled. The officials also called for “full disclosure and sharing of information on errant parties”.Hundreds of fires on Sumatra island last week smothered Kuala Lumpur and surrounding districts.Shifting winds brought relief to those areas over the weekend, but pushed the problem to the Malaysia-Thailand border and onto the Thai island of Phuket.- Nampa-AFPThe officials also called for “full disclosure and sharing of information on errant parties”.Hundreds of fires on Sumatra island last week smothered Kuala Lumpur and surrounding districts.Shifting winds brought relief to those areas over the weekend, but pushed the problem to the Malaysia-Thailand border and onto the Thai island of Phuket.- Nampa-AFP

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