KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Environment ministers from the ASEAN bloc welcomed Thursday (July18th) Indonesia's commitment to ratify an agreement on transboundary haze pollution, local media reported.

Indonesian Environment Minister Balthazar Kambuaya defended his country's handling of land and forest fires in Sumatra's Riau province that caused toxic thick haze to settle over neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore last month, creating health risks.

"Don't think that Indonesia was silent. As a matter of fact, we made as maximum efforts as possible to put out the land and forest fires," Antara quoted him as saying.

Environment ministers from Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand gathered for the meeting, which began Monday, Bernama reported. They agreed to launch a joint haze monitoring system developed by Singapore, subject to approval at the ASEAN summit meeting scheduled for October.