KLSCAH Submits Memorandum endorsed by 160 Organisations to the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, Calls for Stronger Action on Transboundary Haze

The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) initiated a memorandum endorsed by 160 Chinese associations and civil society organisations. Today (23 October), at 3:00 p.m., a delegation led by Dato’ Sri Chong Ket Pen, Deputy President of KLSCAH, submit the memorandum to the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, entitled “Calling for Stronger and Sustained Action by the Indonesian Government to Prevent Forest and Land Fires and End the Recurring Transboundary Haze Crisis”, to embassy officials.

Other KLSCAH representatives who participated were NG GEOK CHEE (Vice President of KLSCAH), YEO AN THAI (Secretary General of KLSCAH), LEE SEE KIANG (Chairperson of KLSCAH Civil Rights Committee), CHONG SIOW WEI (Chairperson of KLSCAH Women), STEVEN WONG TECK SIONG (Board Member of KLSCAH), CHENG CHEE KIN (Secretary of KLSCAH Civil Rights Committee), TAN WEI HERNG (Head of Affiliates Liaison Department of KLSCAH Youth), and JOWYN SAW (Deputy Head of Department for Gender Justice and Inclusivity of KLSCAH Youth).

Representatives from Chinese associations included ANDY FOONG (President of Federation of Koo Kong Chau Luk Yup Association Malaysia), DERIC TEH (Chairman of Persatuan Penjaja-Penjaja dan Peniaga-Peniaga Kecil Kawasan Kepong), SING KIAN HOCK (President of Persatuan Pemborong Ikan Hoi Seong KL) and Sammie Tee Chee Ean (Deputy Director of Culture, Persatuan Hokkien Klang)

Following the submission, the delegation held a press conference outside the embassy, where DATO’ SRI CHONG KET PEN outlined the memorandum’s contents and recommendations. Other representatives held placards bearing slogans in Chinese, English and Malay and displayed a banner reading “No to Transboundary Haze! Indonesian Government, Act Now!”, expressing the organisations’ shared concern over transboundary haze.

Through the memorandum, KLSCAH and the supporting organisations put forward five recommendations:

1. Strengthen inter-agency coordination and ensure a rapid response to fires;
2. Hold companies accountable and strengthen cross-border enforcement cooperation;
3. Strengthen fire prevention, monitoring and public disclosure;
4. Prioritise public health and strengthen support for affected communities;
5. Strengthen regional cooperation and establish measurable accountability mechanisms.

KLSCAH and the supporting organisations maintain that commercial and development interests must not take precedence over public health and environmental sustainability. Malaysia and Indonesia share the same regional environment, and the consequences of fires and haze do not stop at national borders. Sustained and effective action by all parties is essential to safeguarding the health and well-being of people across the region.

Press Conference ended at 3:45 p.m.

From left: TAN WEI HERNG (Head of Affiliates Liaison Department of KLSCAH Youth), JOWYN SAW (Deputy Head of Department for Gender Justice and Inclusivity of KLSCAH Youth), Sammie Tee Chee Ean(Deputy Director of Culture, Persatuan Hokkien Klang), CHONG SIOW WEI（Chairperson of KLSCAH Women), DERIC TEH (Chairman of Persatuan Penjaja-Penjaja dan Peniaga-Peniaga Kecil Kawasan Kepong）, YEO AN THAI（Secretary General of KLSCAH）, DATO’ SRI CHONG KET PEN（Deputy President of KLSCAH）, SING KIAN HOCK（President of Persatuan Pemborong Ikan Hoi Seong KL）, LEE SEE KIANG（Chairperson of KLSCAH Civil Rights Committee）, ANDY FOONG（President of Federation of Koo Kong Chau Luk Yup Association Malaysia）, STEVEN WONG TECK SIONG （Board Member of KLSCAH）

From left: TAN WEI HERNG (Head of Affiliates Liaison Department of KLSCAH Youth), LEE SEE KIANG（Chairperson of KLSCAH Civil Rights Committee), JOWYN SAW (Deputy Head of Department for Gender Justice and Inclusivity of KLSCAH Youth), DERIC TEH (Chairman of Persatuan Penjaja-Penjaja dan Peniaga-Peniaga Kecil Kawasan Kepong), SING KIAN HOCK（President of Persatuan Pemborong Ikan Hoi Seong KL), YEO AN THAI（Secretary General of KLSCAH), Representative from Indonesian Embassy, DATO’ SRI CHONG KET PEN（Deputy President of KLSCAH）, NG GEOK CHEE（Vice President of KLSCAH）, STEVEN WONG TECK SIONG （Board Member of KLSCAH）, CHONG SIOW WEI（Chairperson of KLSCAH Women）, ANDY FOONG（President of Federation of Koo Kong Chau Luk Yup Association Malaysia）