What's crystal clear about the issue of the haze that's presently enveloping many parts of the country is that the Malaysian government, in particular the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, has so far refused to be transparent and forthcoming by at least making public the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings.

To declare, as Science, Technology and Environment Minister Law Hieng Ding himself did initially, that the haze would be "temporary" isn't exactly soothing to the rakyat , especially those with respiratory ailments. For one thing, "temporary" can be vague as it can range from five days to five weeks - or more.

Neither would the posting of a picture of Kuala Lumpur with the headline "Clear Air and Blue skies" on the Department of Environment website give a feel good sensation to Malaysians, particularly those residing - and breathing - outside the capital city. It might as well post this message instead: "Welcome to Beautiful and Unique Malaysia" - with, of course, the foreign tourists in mind.

At any rate, this refusal to be open smacks of political arrogance on the part of the government leaders because the people's right to information and healthy living has been patently denied. People need such information so as to help them take appropriate precautionary and remedial measures pertaining to their physical and mental health. That is why individuals and groups, even the otherwise contented and pliant mainstream newspapers, have vigorously called for the authorities to publicise the API readings.

And yet, the response from the government to date has been devastatingly disappointing. It only said that it would mull over the possibility of lifting the ban on the API - while possibly hundreds of Malaysians suffer from haze- and pollution-related illnesses, anxiety and depression. This is, incidentally, a strange way to build a caring society! It is even stranger - and sadder still - when we're told by the government that the Truth about the haze would hurt - no prizes for guessing - the tourism industry.

But surely if hiding the truth from the Malaysian public about the haze is indeed wrong, then doing the same thing to the foreign tourists is equally deceitful and reprehensible. Or is this a classic case of two wrongs making a right?

As already pointed out by certain groups in the country, denying the public the API figures would only fuel the suspicion that the government has something to hide. In this regard, it should be clear to the government that its entrenched position on the haze matter would only aggravate its larger problem of credibility among the people. A public perception, real or imagined, that the government is being dishonest, lackadaisical and insensitive can cause havoc to the latter's credibility and social standing.

To restore credibility and confidence, the government ought to take certain measures. One of the obvious steps is to release the much-needed API readings to the public via the mass media and the Internet. The Department of Environment in particular must be people-friendly especially in the age of the Internet where as much information as possible should be made available on its website so that the curiosity of the Net users can be satisfied. Otherwise, it would only reinforce doubts about the possibility of creating an information society from the much-talked about Multimedia Super Corridor project.

In addition, given the nature of the haze, the Ministry of Health should come forward in providing advice and precautionary measures to concerned and anxious Malaysians in a way that would allay unnecessary fears and panic. At the same time, others in the medical field should also be given the opportunity to provide help and information that would be needed by the general public. The media would be an appropriate platform for all these activities.

Given the foot-dragging of the government regarding provision of certain vital information, it is imperative that the media make attempts to investigate the short- and long-term impact of the haze upon the people as a whole by getting feedback from doctors, economists, sociologists, to name but a few. Which is why the media cannot treat the haze as an event, a one-off thing, but rather as a process.

This means that there is a need for the media to monitor periodically certain activities such as vehicular emission and factory pollution before, during and after the haze. Furthermore, constant monitoring of open burning by the media is crucial especially if it involves Malaysian companies committing such acts in Indonesia, In fact, the names of the companies should be revealed as they not only helped bring the haze to their country, but also shame as well.

In this connection, Malaysian journalists should seek cooperation and assistance from their counterparts in the Asean countries concerned in an endeavour to provide to the general public a deeper understanding of the haze problem. This is especially so when, in an era of globalisation, businesses cross borders, and quite often bringing along with them cultural and political baggage that may be inimical to the host environment.

Furthermore, just as haze and pollution defy political and physical borders, so accountability must be invoked against companies that involve themselves, directly or otherwise, in open burning in a host country irrespective of their national origins. For in this matter, the collective interest of the citizenry must override that of the corporate players.

Given the "haze experience" - and also certain political developments - of recent past, would you blame some Malaysians for having harboured the suspicion that there's something in the air that their government refuses to clarify at all, or clarify adequately?