The haze seems to be here for good. And it has become a recurring problem over the last decade, posing serious environmental and health problems.

The culprits are unscrupulous plantation companies, that set fire to forests in order to clear the land for farming in Indonesia. This is the cheapest way.

Despite numerous round table talks and pubic outcries, the region is yet to activate its action plan to prevent, control and resolve the problem.

Interestingly, an Indonesian minister had claimed that among the culprits, were Malaysian plantation companies.

In 1997, during the aftermath of one of the worst haze disaster in the region, a trans-boundary treaty was signed to forge cooperation between Asean countries to cohesively and collectively fight against the haze menace.

But until today, after a week of the latest haze bout, Asean has yet to act.

"We have had enough talking and rhetoric from government leaders in both Malaysia and Indonesia.

"It's time to act and act fast to stop a colossal public health disaster," said Penang-based social movement, Save Ourselves secretary Ong Boon Keong.

On Saturday, the visibility range in Penang was less than 200m with several landmarks such as the Penang Hill, Penang Bridge and Komtar vanished under the blanket of smoke.

No more excuses

This prompted Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Penang deputy chairperson Cheah Kah Peng to lead a group of protestors to the Indonesian consulate-general office in George Town to handover a protest note.

"In the name of justice and compassion to the breathless, on behalf of the young and old, hospitalised and asthmatic, pregnable and pregnant, and in solidarity with all chocking and suffering citizens in Indonesia, Malaysia and neighbouring friends, we call on the Indonesian government and others as well to identify the 'hot spots', stem out the original cause of the haze once and for all, apprehend and punish the culprits.

"We believe there should not be any more excuse for being unable to solve this problem," said Cheah.

He said the Indonesian government had the facilities and legal mechanism to execute the task immediately.

Virtually everyone in Penang agreed that negligence and greed of certain plantation companies, and the incompetence and inability of relevant governments to punish them caused the haze.

By virtue of the 1997 treaty, Asean governments should have already deployed their rapid fire fighting squad.

The governments should have already implemented effective trans-boundary policies and enforce strict laws to prevent deliberate plantation fires.

It is learnt that foreign diplomats from the affected Asean countries would only be discussing the issue this week in Penang.

People are suffering

"It's an international natural tragedy and the governments involved are still discussing how to solve it.

"Outside the people are suffering while government officials spend their time in an air-conditioned meeting room thinking how to overcome the disaster," said a disappointed petrol kiosk operator, Khaw Aik Yong, 42.

Meanwhile, Ong was also upset when he learnt that Asean officials were still in the planning stage.

"While the governments hold rounds and rounds of table talks to plan, millions living within the region continue to suffer," he said.

Roti canai seller, Mohamed Sidek Rawter, whose two young children are suffering from cough and eye irritation, said Malaysia and Indonesia should plan ahead to stop the haze, instead of only acting and reacting on a ad-hoc basis.

"Perhaps the government will only react fast when someone dies," claimed and enraged restaurant manager, V Mahendran.

ATHI VEERANGGAN is malaysiakini 's Penang-based stringer.