The country is shrouded in haze while the Air Pollutant Index (API) is shrouded in secrecy. This must change, said Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang today.

The veteran politician called on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to end the eight-year secrecy over the index to protect the health and safety of the public.

He was responding to Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's statement yesterday that Malaysians must be content with the information on the haze as the government has no plans to make the index public.

Lim described this as 'most disappointing and unacceptable'.

"Malaysians must express loud and clear their disappointment and demand that the premier give this matter new and deep re-deliberation," said the DAP stalwart in a statement.

Besides the health factor, he said the haze situation also had several national implications, namely a test of Abdullah's pledge to head an administration which is trustworthy and people-oriented.

Secondly, he asked whether Malaysia was ready to join the ranks of countries that do not regard information as the government's property but a right of the people.

Short-sighted decision

In retrospect, Lim said DAP had been in the forefront opposing the government's decision in 1997 to classify the API as an official secret.

"It was a most short-sighted decision for while Malaysians support tourism to bring in revenue, this cannot be at the expense of the health and welfare of the citizens or tourists themselves.

"In the era of information technology, it is sheer folly for the government to pretend that it could mislead foreign tourists into believing that there is pure and clean air in the country...," he added.

Lim also dismissed the government's argument that the API figures, if released, would be distorted by the foreign press to paint a grim picture of Malaysia.

"By this logic, Singapore should be equally, if not more concerned, about the adverse effect of poor API data in tourist arrival but it never banned the API even in the worst haze catastrophe in the past eight years," he said.

Neighbouring country

In a related development, the Fire and Rescue Department said the haze was not a result of fires in the country.

Its director-general Hamzah Abu Bakar said although satelitte images showed several 'hot spots' in peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, all of them were put out and the situation is under control.

"The conclusion is that the haze is believed to be caused by a neighbouring country and not because of fires here," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

Hamzah said Fire and Rescue Department personnel have been placed on alert to face any eventuality.

He also advised the public not to carry out any open burning as it will worsen the situation.

"People should try to avoid outdoor activities and when in an open area outside, they should wear protective masks," he said.