JOINT PRESS STATEMENT
SEVENTH ASEAN MINISTERIAL MEETING ON HAZE

6 JULY 1999
PUTRA JAYA, SELANGOR, MALAYSIA


  1. The ASEAN Environment Ministers held its Seventh Meeting on Haze in Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia on 6 July 1999 to review the strategies and mechanisms for the implementation of the ASEAN Regional Haze Action Plan (RHAP). The Ministerial Meeting was preceded by the Thirteenth Meeting of the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN) Haze Technical Task Force (HTTF), which was held on 5 July 1999.

  2. The Meeting was attended by H.E. Pengiran Indera Wijaya Pengiran Dr. Haji Ismail bin Pengiran Haji Damit, Minister of Development, Brunei Darussalam; H.E. Dr. Panangian Siregar, State Minister for the Environment, Indonesia; H.E. Datuk Law Hieng Ding, Minister of Science, Technology and the Environment, Malaysia; H.E Mr. Lee Yock Suan, Minister for Environment, Singapore; H.E Mr. Bounthong Vongsaly, Ambassador of Lao PDR to Malaysia, H.E Mr. U Saw Tun, Ambassador of Myanmar to Malaysia; H.E. Mr. Jose S. Brillantes, Ambassador of Republic of Philippines to Malaysia and representatives from Kingdom of Cambodia and Thailand. Officials from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat were also present. The Meeting was also attended by representatives from Asian Development Bank (ADB), Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), European Union-funded Forest Fire Prevention and Control Project (FFPCP), Global Environment Network (GEN), International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)-World Wildlife Fund (WWF), New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSWRFS), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), US Southeast Asia Environmental Initiatives (SEA-EI) and the WWF-Malaysia.

  3. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Datuk Law Hieng Ding, Minister of Science, Technology and the Environment, Malaysia.

  4. The Ministers took note that the effects of the La Nina will continue, though weakening gradually till the end of 1999 bringing with it some rainfall which will hopefully reduce the haze occurrence. However, in view of the predicted dry weather pattern affecting the region in the coming months, there is still a need to remain vigilant and take immediate and firm actions as well as concerted efforts in dealing with the haze problems.

  5. The zero burning policy adopted by the Ministers at the last Meeting has now been implemented in various stages by member countries, including Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Indonesia indicated that it would convene two dialogue sessions with the plantation owners in Sumatra as well as Kalimantan to familiarise them with the policy as one of the positive measures in preventing land clearing by burning. New regulations and stricter enforcement actions has also been taken by member countries to control open burning.

  6. In view of the urgency to implement the Immediate Action Plan (IAP) developed for Riau, the Ministers agreed that this IAP be implemented immediately. They also agreed to the development of the IAPs for other provinces in the haze prone areas in Sumatra and Kalimantan and have them implemented as soon as possible. The purpose of the IAP is to prevent any fire from occurring during the dry season of 1999.

  7. The Ministers endorsed the Updated Implementation Plan for the RHAP and recommended that the Plan be revised regularly in view of the possible changes in the field conditions.

  8. The Ministers also endorsed the proposal on the feasibility study to strengthen the legal framework in addressing transboundary haze pollution. The terms of reference for the study will be developed before the next HTTF meeting.

  9. The Meeting noted that Indonesia will be conducting air surveillance during the coming weeks to monitor any fire outbreaks in the Kalimantan region in order to ensure that the forthcoming SEA Games to be held in Brunei Darussalam in early August this year will not be affected by haze.

  10. The Ministers took note of the establishment of the Coordination and Support Unit within the ASEAN Secretariat for the continued support in the implementation of the RHAP.

  11. The Ministers expressed their sincere appreciation to the international agencies and donor countries for providing their continued support and collaboration to the region in addressing the transboundary haze problem.