Change in wind direction sends the worst of the pollution to Malaysia
Feng Zengkun Environment Correspondent Straits Times 24 Jun 13;
SINGAPORE can expect to see clearer skies and healthier air for the next few days than it did last week, while Malaysia bears the brunt of the haze, as the wind is projected to blow the bulk of it there.
Weather services director Patricia Ee at Meteorological Service Singapore said air quality improved here yesterday because low-level winds over the Republic changed direction from southwesterly to southerly, and these conditions are expected to persist for the next few days.
Thus, air quality here is expected to remain "moderate" today, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) projected to be in the 51-100 range.
Even so, because the levels of small, toxic particles called PM2.5 are still quite high, the Government is sticking to a stricter health advisory.
Thus, pregnant women, the elderly and children are still advised to curtail outdoor activities that last several hours, while those with chronic lung and heart diseases should avoid all outdoor activities if possible.
Ms Ee said "very unhealthy" air was initially forecast for yesterday, but the projection had to be revised when the change in wind direction led to cleaner air.
She said Singapore is so small that even minor shifts in wind direction will result in the haze being blown over to Malaysia.
Ministers and experts here warned that Singapore was not out of the woods yet.
Speaking to reporters earlier yesterday, Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan Jin noted that Indonesia was only at the start of its dry season.
"The season extends all the way to September, and that's a few more months."
Nanyang Technological University's Professor Euston Quah, who has published groundbreaking studies on air pollution and transboundary haze, said: "Whenever you have an intense dry season, there is a fear that nature itself could spark a fire."
Dr Benjamin Grandey from the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology was sceptical about Indonesia's attempt to artificially create rain.
"Deep convective clouds and clouds in general are very complicated. I do not believe cloud-seeding can be used with any degree of skill to influence the weather in the way people want."
Prolonged haze 'may hit Singapore's competitiveness'
Aaron Low Assistant Money Editor Straits Times 24 Jun 13;
THE haze would "almost certainly" have an impact on Singapore's economy, especially on the tourism industry here, Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam said yesterday.
One small but clear example of this already happening is a nuclear energy forum that was to be held on Tuesday, but has since been cancelled because of the haze, he said.
This after three prominent American speakers, all in their 80s, decided that it was better to cancel the trip.
The three were former Senator Sam Nunn, former Defence Secretary William Perry, and former Secretary of State George Shultz.
"There would be an impact to the image of Singapore. Because they think of Singapore now, during this period, many people will associate it with the haze. One small illustration is this cancellation," said Mr Shanmugam, at the sidelines of a community event yesterday.
He added that the tourism industry is likely to be hit and that would have other secondary effects on the rest of the economy.
Other business leaders and analysts agreed, noting that a prolonged period of haze could put Singapore's reputation as a leading international centre for business and talent at risk.
The Singapore Business Federation's chief operating officer, Mr Victor Tay, said that one of Singapore's key competitive strengths has always been the clean environment but this has come under threat with the haze.
" Companies move their regional headquarters here because their senior managers like the place. This prolonged haze exposure is certainly putting the country's reputation at risk," said Mr Tay.
The air quality deteriorated significantly last week, with the PSI level hitting 401, the highest ever in Singapore. But it improved over the weekend, after reports showed that Indonesia was water-bombing the hot spots.
The hit to Singapore's reputation could be worse if the haze worsens every year without a permanent solution to fix the problem, said Mr See Hong Pek, a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
"If the haze is likely to continue worsening year after year without affirmative action, Singapore's reputation will be badly damaged," he added.
Surveys conducted by research outfits such as the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) looks at the country's environment when assessing its overall competitiveness.
The EIU projected earlier this month - before the onset of haze - that Singapore is expected to retain its position as the most competitive city in Asia in 2025, due to the Republic's top ranking in the environment and natural hazards category.
But Kelly Services country general manager Mark Hall said that Singapore will still retain its ability to attract talent.
"In Beijing, the air quality year-round is bad. But people still move there to live and work. Singapore, in comparison, is still a highly liveable city."
