The forest fires broke out in Kalimantan, Indonesia back in 1997/1998 was bad, very bad. It has been left unattended for almost 3 MONTHS and million of hectares of virgin forest has been destroyed. As one of the worst affected economies in Asia during the Financial turmoil, deep in the inland forest area Indonesian Island of Kalimantan in the east and Sumatra Island in the west were set to blaze for more than a month. The haze carried by wind covered a big portion of South East Asian countries. Kuala Lumpur, away from both island thousands of kilometer away was not spared. Despite the forest fire was there for more than a few months, even the hardest uncompromising environmentalists were kept silence over the matter and no aids or even consultancy were given to the Indonesian government Eventually, in a largest friendly mission sent abroad, our country Malaysia sent more than two thousand firemen to help the neighbor to put off the fire. It serves as a good lesson to all and made many realize the truth and disappointing standard set by environmentalists in the west. Image copyright © 2003. Vincent Thian®, All Rights Reserved <CONTACT> Photo Editor, Associated Press, Malaysian Bureau Hosted by: Malaysian Internet Resources | close | Home - Photography in Malaysia