Malaysia Orders Hush on Haze
11/8/97
OVERVIEW, SOURCE & COMMENTARY by EE
Malaysia has again shown its inability to address environmental issues
in an open and reflective manner. The Malaysian government has
ordered scientists and environmentalists at state sponsored
universities to not comment on the thick haze that has blanketed the
country. So rather than face up to unsustainable tropical forestry
and agricultural practices being practiced locally and regionally, as
well as being disseminated world-wide by Indonesian and Malaysian
timber companies; the reaction is knee-jerk totalitarian censorship.
The Asian economic miracle, as with previous American and European
"economic development", has been achieved through clearly
unsustainable resource harvest and environmentally degrading
industries. No economic and social advancement is possible when the
ecological systems upon which we all depend have been lost.
g.b.
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: Malaysia Orders Hush on Haze
Source: The Associated Press
Status: Copyrighted, contact Source for permission to reprint
Date: November 6, 1997
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Fearing damage to its multibillion-
dollar tourist industry, the Malaysian government has told scientists
and environmentalists at state-funded universities to stop commenting
about the country's haze problem, local newspapers reported Thursday.
The Cabinet has ordered the experts to stop talking to the press and
making public statements on the thick smog that has made the air in
large parts of the country unbreathable, the dailies said, quoting a
top official.
Comments by the specialists had been distorted by foreign media,
marring Malaysia's image and discouraging tourism, Education Minister
Najib Abdul Razak told a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, the Star reported.
``Some are speculative findings and if allowed to continue could bring
negative effects, especially on tourists,'' Najib was quoted as
saying.
But he insisted the experts had not been muzzled completely.
``This does not mean the academicians cannot communicate with the
press, but in sensitive matters, such as the haze, the Cabinet
recently decided that only higher authorities are allowed to make
statements,'' he said.
Written orders had been sent to state-funded universities, he said.
The ban did not cover experts working in private institutions.
Tourism last year replaced petroleum as Malaysia's second-largest
foreign exchange earner, bringing in about $4.5 billion.
There are no reliable estimates on the decline, but in the resort
island of Penang, 180 miles northwest of Kuala Lumpur, hoteliers said
occupancy rates fell from 80 percent to 30 percent because of the
haze, which started rolling in four months ago.
The Cabinet's move raised concerns among some local newspapers.
``While we talk about nurturing a scientific and technological
society, we are either unwilling to share the knowledge or putting
barriers to its dissemination,'' said A. Kadir Jasin, editor of the
New Straits Times in a comment published in his daily.
``It is a step backward and a shortsighted decision,'' he said.
Skies in many parts of the country are still gray because of the smoke
from Indonesian forest fires. On Thursday, the haze over Kuala Lumpur
and some parts of the country improved two days after the air
pollution index surpassed the ``unhealthy'' 100 level.
The smoke billowing from fires set by villagers and companies in
Indonesia have darkened skies in Singapore as well as Malaysia. They
have even polluted the air as far away as Thailand, causing an
increase in respiratory problems among residents.
The problem has been exacerbated by the delay in seasonal rains that
might have helped douse the fires.