MPs ask Singapore government to do more on haze issue

Hoe Yeen Nie Channel NewsAsia 22 Nov 10;

SINGAPORE: The return of the haze last month has prompted MPs to ask the government to do more to prevent another occurrence.

For several days in mid-October, Singapore was shrouded with the haze, which at one point reached the unhealthy level.

Speaking in Parliament on Monday, Environment Minister Yaacob Ibrahim said joint efforts with the Indonesian government have reduced the number of hotspots in Jambi and Riau.

Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo added that ASEAN ministers are also working together on the issue through a ministerial steering committee.

But some MPs pointed out that Indonesia has not yet ratified the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.

MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, Lee Bee Wah, said: "They're dragging their feet. Would the minister take this up to international organisations like WHO (World Health Organisation)?"

MP for Hougang, Low Thia Khiang, said: "Despite the efforts and the minister talking to his counterpart in Indonesia, it seems to me that the haze remains smoky and the situation doesn't improve."

Minister George Yeo said: "Diplomatically we certainly hope to be more successful, but there are limits to what we can do.

"It doesn't mean that (if) we make stronger speeches or internationalise the issue it will necessary help solve this problem.

"It is not just to give emotional satisfaction to our own sense of hurt and grievance.

"Important thing is to be effective and if we can be effective without commotion, all the better. If we need a commotion, we have a commotion. But the key is to be effective."

- CNA/ir

Singapore will continue to engage Indonesia to fight haze
Elgin Toh Straits Times 23 Nov 10;

SINGAPORE will continue to use all available channels to urge the Indonesian government to tackle the haze problem, Foreign Minister George Yeo and Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim assured Parliament yesterday.

Mr Yeo said Indonesia stood to gain the most from eradicating the haze. When the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hits the unhealthy level of 100 here, parts of Indonesia would be experiencing far more hazardous levels of between 200 and 300. 'The most interested party in solving the haze problem is Indonesia itself, because millions of its own people are affected,' he said.

Last month, fires in Indonesia caused hazy conditions over Singapore, with the PSI climbing above 100 for the first time since 2006.

Dr Yaacob said the haze onset was short this year and its impact 'minimal'. But Singapore continued to engage Indonesia on the issue. Singapore offers firefighting assistance to Indonesia. It also works with regional countries through a Ministerial Steering Committee to monitor hot spots.

Mr Yeo said Singapore would raise the issue with international groups like the United Nations and the World Health Organisation when it is 'necessary and helpful' to do so.

Bilaterally, Singapore is in close collaboration with the central and provincial authorities in Indonesia. For example, programmes in Jambi province initiated by Singapore to fight fire and promote sustainable land-farming practices have kept the number of hot spots there low.

Yesterday, MPs quizzed the ministers on efforts to combat the haze. Ms Lee Bee Wah (Ang Mo Kio GRC) asked if the Indonesian government lacked political will to resolve the issue and was dragging its feet. Others noted that Indonesia remains the only Asean country that has not ratified the 2002 Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.

Responding, Mr Yeo said Indonesia had made 'big efforts', citing an instance when it leased water bombers from Russia to fight fires. Its efforts paid off, with the past few years haze-free. This year's haze was brought on by burning to clear land, exacerbated by a dry spell resulting from the El Nino warm weather effect.

On the 2002 Asean Agreement, Mr Yeo said the Indonesian government had signed the document, but the House of Representatives (DPR) - which 'has got a life and voice of its own' - has not ratified it.

Opposition MP Low Thia Khiang (Hougang) asked if the recurrence of the haze was a 'diplomatic failure on the part of Singapore and Asean'. Mr Yeo acknowledged that 'diplomatically we certainly hope to be more successful, but there are limits to what we're able to do'.

Madam Ho Geok Choo (West Coast GRC) suggested seeding clouds to make rain, but Dr Yaacob said studies showed this was ineffective. He also dismissed with a 'flat no' her call for utilities rebates for Singaporeans who stayed indoors to avoid the haze and ran up higher bills using the fan or air-conditioner.

There are limits to what Singapore can do about haze: George Yeo
Ong Dai Lin Today Online 23 Nov 10;

SINGAPORE - Despite talks over the years to get Indonesia to stop the haze, the problem still persists. Does this reflect a diplomatic failure on the part of Singapore or Asean, asked Workers' Party chief Low Thia Khiang in Parliament yesterday.

Foreign Minister George Yeo replied that while Singapore hopes that diplomatic efforts are more successful, there are limits to what Singapore can do.

"It doesn't mean if we make stronger speeches or internationalise the issue, that will necessarily help solve this problem," he added.

The haze problem is complex and is likely to come back from time to time depending on the climate. Mr Yeo said a multi-pronged approach to help Indonesia at the international, regional and corporate level should be taken.

When asked by MP Lee Bee Wah if Singapore can take the issue to international organisations, Mr Yeo said: "It is not just to give emotional satisfaction to our own sense of hurt and grievance ... If we can be effective without commotion, all the better. But if we need a commotion, well, we'll have a commotion.

"But the key is to be effective. We try very hard at all levels to do all we can."

Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim reiterated the work that Singapore has done to help Indonesia combat the haze.

For instance, Singapore has collaborated with Indonesia's Jambi province to implement initiatives such as haze monitoring, assessing fire-fighting capabilities, as well as capacity building on sustainable land-farming practices.

The number of hot spots in Jambi has been low and Dr Yaacob said it is important to replicate the experience gained there with other local governments in Indonesia.

As the current chair of the Sub-regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution, Singapore will work more closely with regional countries to put in place more measures to prevent land and forest fires.

"This will avert the need for huge resources required by affected countries to tackle the problems after trans-boundary haze occurs," said Dr Yaacob.