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SHAH ALAM – Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has proposed coordinated diplomatic pressure and restrictions on bank financing for companies linked to slash-and-burn practices to address the recurring haze crisis linked to Indonesia.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, he said Malaysia should work with other Asean countries to pressure parties responsible for the problem.
“We hit them where it hurts them the most, then there will be action,” he said when asked how he would address the haze crisis if he were prime minister.
Syed Saddiq proposed that Malaysia work with other Asean members to isolate parties that failed to take action.
“We need to isolate them diplomatically, not just through Malaysia, but through Asean as a whole. Diplomatic pressure at the regional level would carry much greater weight,” he said
He also called for major financial institutions to stop financing companies involved in slash-and-burn practices.
“Bring together the biggest financial players and get major banks that have been financing companies involved in slash-and-burn practices to stop funding them. Cut off their access to capital and hit them where it hurts — their wallets,” he said.
Syed Saddiq stressed that government action alone would not be enough, saying the public also had an important role to play in exerting targeted economic pressure.
He said Malaysia could use its purchasing power and financial influence to push companies to take responsibility for their practices.
Drawing a comparison with past diplomatic disputes involving former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the United Kingdom, Syed Saddiq said the government should not rely solely on conventional administrative measures.
