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Singapore angry over worsening haze crisis
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SINGAPORE has slammed “shocking” statements from Indonesian officials over the haze crisis as it closed all schools and distributed protective face masks yesterday in emergency measures after the air pollution index soared to hazardous levels.
The city-state has been cloaked in smog blown in from tinder-dry Sumatra island for about three weeks, the worst such episode since mid-2013 in a crisis that grips the region nearly ever year during the burning-off season.
The closure of schools and kindergartens due to the haze problem is unprecedented, the Straits Times daily said as the air quality index shot up above 300, a level considered “hazardous.”
As the pollution index rose, so did tempers, with Singapore Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam speaking out against some Indonesian figures who made light of the problem.
He was joined by former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong who said yesterday that the “real solution” is with Indonesia rooting out the cause at the source.
“If Indonesia can stamp out illegal burning, they will gain investor confidence in their abilities to tackle other complex challenges,” he said on Facebook.
Shanmugam said that while Jakarta says it is taking steps to deal with the problem, “at the same time, we are hearing some shocking statements made, at senior levels, from Indonesia, with a complete disregard for our people, and their own”.
“How is it possible for senior people in government to issue such statements, without any regard for their people, or ours, and without any embarrassment, or sense of responsibility?” he said.
Shanmugam did not identify the officials, but Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla has made waves in recent weeks by repeating comments he made in March that Indonesia’s neighbors should be grateful for good air quality most of the year.
“For 11 months, they enjoyed nice air from Indonesia and they never thanked us,” he said at the time.
Indonesian presidential spokesman Ari Dwipayana declined to comment on Shanmugam’s remarks, but said Indonesia’s neighbors should also take note of Jakarta’s efforts to contain the fires.
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