As findings of the ill-effects generated by the 'Asian Brown Cloud' a 3km thick blanket of pollution covering South Asian countries attracts international attention, the Malaysian Department of Environment (DOE) appears to be slow in reacting to the issue.

A United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) press release on Monday said preliminary results from the study by 200 scientists working with the body has indicated that the haze could have an adverse impact on global climate.

However, when asked if the haze situation in Malaysia could be as bad as those in other South Asian countries, DOE control division director Lee Heng Keng declined to comment.

"I cannot comment because I have not seen the (UNEP official) report," he said when contacted.

Lee added that he would instruct his officers to contact the regional UNEP office in Bangkok, Thailand regarding the matter.