IN reference to the recent report, Smoke smothers Klang villages, I’m glad that it has gotten the attention of the authorities. However, what is appalling is that the authorities could not trace the culprits of the open fire.

This is not the first time smoke smothers Klang, particularly the stretch between Jalan Kebun to Bandar Botanic. For as long as I’ve been staying in Klang since year 2000, this has been an annual affair.

Are the authorities doing all they can to stop this annual torture to the people of Klang by these selfish farmers and plantations? We were so loud in telling Indonesia to get to the cause of the haze we suffered from them, what then are the authorities doing when the same thing is happening back home?

This is only a small fire and even that we cannot stop it from repeating itself. What is a fine of RM2,000 to plantation companies? They would rather pay the fine annually if they can get their crops going.

Fine alone will not work. Surely the citizens of Klang have some rights to expect the authorities to use their full power to bring a stop to this annual mania.

The report stated that the Selangor DOE had directed some owners to stop the spread of fire. Was the directive obeyed? In view of the thicker smoke this morning, I’m not sure.

The areas affected by the smoke stretches from Jalan Kebun to Sentosa, from Bandar Botanic to Port Klang, and by evening, the haze could be seen in Taman Berkeley.

The number of people affected must have run into hundreds of thousands. So please help. ,

MRS PHUA
Klang

Source: The Star – February 22, 2008