Indonesian forest fires spark haze fears in Malaysia

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — The growing number of forest fires in Indonesia's Sumatra island has triggered warning bells that hazy skies could return to neighbouring Malaysia, environmental officials said Sunday.

Forest fires from Indonesia caused by traditional farming methods have been blamed for the choking haze, which shrouds the region annually.

Malaysia was drafting plans to ensure no open-burning activities were carried out during the dry season, although there were no reports of haze, said Rosnani Ibrahim, director-general of the environmental department.

"There is no indicator that we are going to have it yet, but we are concerned with the increasing number of hotspots," or illegal fires, Rosnani told AFP.

"We are doing our best to avoid any open...