I refer to the malaysiakini report, Haze: Kuala Lumpur in 'unhealthy' level .

For more than a decade, this haze problem has been with us with no end in sight. Promise after promise made by the Indonesian authorities that they will prosecute those companies which burn large tracts of forest for replanting purposes are not kept.

We seem to be suffering from the sins of our neighbour who does not seem to have the will to stop this menace from spreading to our shores.

The haze, which has enveloped our nation for the past few days, is not only a health hazard but is also an additional burden for Muslims fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. If torrential rains don't fall in the coming days, schools might have to be closed down. There will be an upsurge in respiratory cases soon and all this will put a damper on the coming festive season.

The thick smog robs one's enthusiasm to walk along the streets, and the hospitals and clinics are full of patients who are suffering ill-health due to this haze which causes breathing difficulties for the old and infirm.

Our tourism industry will take a beating during this hazy period and one tends to wonder how we going to attract foreign tourists to come in by the plane-loads come Visit Malaysia Year next year.

We reap what we sow as for more than a decade we destroyed our own environment due to excess development. We can't blame the Indonesian authorities for not stopping open burning on their side of the border as most of the companies guilty of the act are Malaysian plantation companies operating there.

Many companies in this country is also guilty of open burning but a surprising few are being charged in a court of law for their crime.

As long as there is no political will amongst our Asian countries to fight the haze collectively by stamping out the hot spots, this problem will be with us for a long time to come.