Residents all smoked up

KLANG: Residents in Johan Setia here are at their wits' end over the issue of open burning and bad air quality in their area.
"The situation is getting more serious, with people in Johan Setia and neighbouring housing estates suffering from breathing difficulties and health problems related to haze and pollution," said Klang MP Charles Santiago at a press conference.
Charles said the government should categorise the situation at Johan Setia as a national crisis as the air pollution index had reached very unhealthy levels. with some people suffering from chronic illnesses and respiratory problems being hospitalised.
Charles refuted a recent report submitted by the Department of Environment to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Datuk Seri G. Palanivel on open burning at Johan Setia as it contradicts what the residents reported to him.
In the report, it stated that there was no open burning activities at the site on July 2 and July 5.
He said open burning activities were not only carried out at Johan Setia but also in areas such as Jalan Kebun and Bandar Putera as well. To prove this allegation, the residents had taken pictures of open burning and uploaded them on a Facebook page called "Stop Open Fire in Johan Setia Klang Selangor".
Charles said that he had also written a letter to the minister concerned to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
In the letter, he suggested that the ministry install an air pollution index sensor in Johan Setia to get a more accurate reading of the air quality. He also proposed acquisition of land by the government as a measure to stop open burning activities, converting the land status in Johan Setia from agriculture to small and medium enterprise and to hold a meeting with the affected residents.
Charles said the residents will initiate legal action against the government if the minister does not respond to the letter within two weeks.
A check on the Fire and Rescue Department website showed 51 cases of open burning, peat soil fire and forest fires in Selangor, the highest among all the states.