We are coming after you: Haze group to companies burning land

A volunteer group in Singapore wants to sue the companies involved in starting fires in Indonesia, and is looking for an "ideal plaintiff" and funds to do so.
Channel NewsAsia 25 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE: A volunteer group called the Haze Elimination Action Team (HEAT) wants to sue and boycott the companies involved in starting fires in Indonesia - and put an end to the haze.

The group is led by Dr Ang Peng Hwa, a professor at Nanyang Technological University's Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.

Speaking to Channel NewsAsia on Friday (Sep 25), Dr Ang said that they are looking to "identify an ideal plaintiff" to successfully sue these companies.

"Most of us have incurred some form of loss during the haze," said Dr Ang. "What we are looking for is someone or an organisation that has incurred losses of a few thousand dollars or more due the haze.

"An ideal plaintiff would be someone who has been hospitalised, for example," he said.

He cited hotels and tour agencies which had their bookings cancelled as other examples. He asked potential plaintiffs to keep their receipts and contact him privately. This person or company would not have to pay anything, he said.

The group is also looking for a lawyer with experience in corporate forensics, so that they can "trace the ownership pattern" of the fires.

They need to raise funds of S$50,000 to S$100,000 for the suit, and are looking to get pro bono legal help as well, Dr Ang said.

The group was formed in 2007 and has about 800 members from all walks of life ranging from housewives and students to working professionals. After haze levels reached hazardous levels in Singapore on Thursday (Sep 24), its Facebook page saw an increase of about 40 member requests.

"To the companies suspected of starting fires, we are coming after you," said Dr Ang.

- CNA/wl


Group may sue companies involved in fires in Indonesia
JOY FANG AND SIAU MING EN Today Online 25 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE — A group of volunteers could become the first to launch a civil suit using the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act against companies involved in starting fires in Indonesia.

The Haze Elimination Action Team (HEAT), led by Dr Ang Peng Hwa, a professor at Nanyang Technological University’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, is intending to use the Act to sue errant companies, and is searching for “an ideal plaintiff”, funding and lawyers to do the job pro bono. A handful from the group — which numbers over 800 — are putting together the legal requirements to take action, said Dr Ang.

The ideal plaintiff has to be someone who has incurred a sizeable bill — perhaps a few thousand dollars — from the haze, said Dr Ang. Plaintiffs can also be companies whose business has been affected by the haze, such as taxi firms or hotels.

“Of course we hope to win, but it’s also a name-and-shame campaign,” said Dr Ang. He added that once a Singapore-based company is identified, his group can call for a boycott of its products and “go after” entities that support the companies through loans or insurance.

HEAT is looking for a lawyer with experience in corporate forensics to “trace the ownership pattern” of the fires. Identifying the company will be a long process, however, as investigators have to document fire spots now and return two to three years later to see which companies are planting there, or benefiting from the field, said Dr Ang.

A civil suit would be part of a multi-pronged strategy needed to tackle errant companies, he said. “We need to put more effort into this, continue pushing and not give up. It is working ... The recalcitrant people are thinking about what’s at stake, taking into account our laws.”

Speaking at a press briefing on the haze situation, Minister for Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan noted that the Act provides for both criminal and civil actions. While he has not been in contact with HEAT, he said he would like to meet the group.

“They are entitled to take action ... our demands for greater transparency and for sharing of information will facilitate their action,” he said. “In fact, it doesn’t only have to be that group, anyone who suffers losses as a result of (the haze) may be entitled to take action against errant companies pursuant to (the Act).”


LOCAL VOLUNTEER GROUP PLANS TO GO AFTER FIRMS INVOLVED IN CAUSING HAZE

LOCAL VOLUNTEER GROUP PLANS TO GO AFTER S'PORE-REGISTERED FIRMS INVOLVED IN STARTING FIRES IN INDONESIA
RONALD LOH AND TAN TAM MEI The New Paper 26 Sep 15;


As the season of haze returns to our shores, some Singaporeans may feel helpless about the smoky, unhealthy air blown our way from the south.

But a group of volunteers are determined to take up the fight against the haze, or those who had a hand in causing it.

The Haze Elimination Action Team (Heat), led by Professor Ang Peng Hwa of Nanyang Technological University's Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, is planning to sue and boycott the companies responsible for the fires.

Yesterday morning, PSI levels crossed into the hazardous range. At 6am, the 24-hour PSI was 257-318, and the three-hour PSI stood at 334.

Prof Ang told The New Paper yesterday: "We want consumers to know that there is something that we can do. We are not helpless."

He and a few others set up Heat in 2007 - a year after Singapore experienced its worst haze in a decade, with the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) peaking at 150.

"What struck me most back then was when I read about a 40-year-old CEO who said how Singaporeans can't do anything about the haze.

"This was a man empowered and in charge of a company, yet he was feeling helpless. I told myself that surely there was something we can do," he said.

In 2007, Heat raised about $20,000 for a website and an educational effort in Jambi, South Sumatra.

Today, the group has about 800 members who include professionals, housewives and students.

It is also working with another haze awareness group, PM.Haze.

Prof Ang said that Heat intends to sue and boycott companies that are registered here but are involved, via intermediary or subsidiary companies, in starting the fires in Indonesia.

It is also "looking for someone or an organisation that has incurred losses of at least tens of thousand dollars or more due the haze", or who has been hospitalised, to be an "ideal plaintiff", he said.

Legal fees are estimated between $50,000 and $100,000 and the team is looking to get pro bono help as well as a lawyer with experience in corporate forensics to help trace the ownership pattern of the fires, he said.

Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan said that this was an encouraging effort at self-help by Heat, but added that it would be a challenging task.

TOUGH TO PROVE

Firstly, there is the evidential burden of proof that these local companies have management control of the Indonesian companies that are legally responsible for the haze, he said.

Heat would then need to provide evidence to the court that these Indonesian entities were indeed causing the haze pollution, he said.

But he noted that this bottom-up approach, if successful, would hit the alleged companies where it hurts the most - their reputations and profits.

"It will send a signal to these companies to clean up their act. It can pressure Singaporean entities to insist on sustainable and responsible agricultural practices throughout their supply chains.

"It's a case of consumers having a big say in how a company ought to conduct itself and being responsible to stakeholders," he said.

Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said during a press conference yesterday that the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, which was passed in Parliament last year, will help those seeking legal action against those responsible for causing or condoning fires if burning results in unhealthy levels of haze in Singapore.

"Whenever possible, we will try to share as much information as possible with the public. I think they are entitled to take action. I think our demands for greater transparency and sharing of information will facilitate their action. Anyone who suffers losses as a result of this may be entitled to take action against errant companies pursuant to (the Act)."

Dr Balakrishnan also listed five companies that the National Environmental Agency has issued notices to. (See report,)

Prof Ang said the case could take years to build and is aware of the challenges ahead.

One of their plans is to gather pictures of the sites that are burning now and check back on these sites in a few years.

"We hope then to trace who benefited from these fires. To the companies suspected of starting fires, we are coming after you," he said.

NEA serves notices on five Indonesian firms

The National Environmental Agency (NEA) has initiated action against four companies which might be involved in the fires that have resulted in the haze, under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan told reporters yesterday: "It (the haze situation) cannot be tolerated. It has caused a major impact on the health, society and economy of our region."

NEA investigations showed that haze-causing fires may have occurred on land concessions held by four Indonesian companies: PT Rimba Hutani Mas, PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries, PT Bumi Sriwijaya Sentosa and PT Wachyuni Mandira.

Under the Act, NEA asked the companies to carry out measures such as extinguishing or preventing any fires on land owned and occupied by them, discontinuing or not commencing burning activities and submitting to it a plan to extinguish or prevent recurrence of such fires.

NEA has also served notice to Asia Pulp & Paper Company, an Indonesian company with an office in Singapore, asking for information on its subsidiaries, as well as measures taken by its suppliers in Indonesia to put out fires.

All five notices were served yesterday.

NEA has also written to the Indonesian authorities asking for the names of other errant companies which might have been identified as causing the fires.

Dr Balakrishnan added: " The Singapore Government is examining ways to apply more economic pressure against errant companies. We will share the results of investigations with public whenever possible."

The maximum fine for companies found guilty of starting fires is $100,000 per day, capped at $2 million.

Q&A To clear the air

It looks clear outside and there is no smoke smell, but the PSI levels on the National Environmental Agency (NEA) website are above 300. What should I trust?

The public should not depend on the visibility and smell of the air because there are other contributing factors in the air besides the PM2.5 concentration, said an NEA spokesman.

Members of public should instead look at the three-hour PSI reading and the one-hour PM2.5 concentration level as a guide to adjust immediate activities like going outside for a jog.

"Don't trust your eyes and nose because they are not what detect harmful substances in the air," said air pollution researcher Erik Velasco of the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology's Centre for Environmental Sensing and Modelling.

Is the online site www.aqicn.org reliable?

On Sept 18, the Beijing-based environmental non-profit group Air Quality Index China released a real-time, interactive map displaying air pollution levels around the world.

The AQICN map, which automatically updates every 15 minutes, compiles verified data from official environmental protection agencies such as NEA.

But its values may differ from those on the NEA website because of a difference in the formula that it uses to calculate the PSI.

Dr Velasco said the NEA website is based on instruments that are approved by international standards and it would be safer to refer to it.

Which is a better gauge, the PSI or PM2.5 readings?

The 24-hour PSI forecast reflects the PSI trend. It is also a gauge for an individual's total exposure to PM2.5 concentrations and should be used to plan ahead for activities, such as whether one should go to work or school. During haze episodes, health advice will be based on the 24-hour PSI.

The three-hour PSI reading and the one-hour PM2.5 concentration reading are based on more recent PM2.5 readings than the 24-hour PSI forecast. So these readings are better guides as to what one should do at a particular point of the day.

What is expected of the haze for the new few days?

The hazy conditions will continue over the next few days, but will gradually improve over the weekend, said NEA.

Wind patterns are expected to change - coming from the South-east instead of the South-west, where the fires and smoke are, Dr Velasco said.


S'poreans intensify fight against haze
Melody Zaccheus, The New Paper AsiaOne 27 Sep 15;

From a campaign to get people to buy environmentally friendly palm oil products, to dragging companies responsible for fires in Indonesia to court - Singaporeans are intensifying their fight against the haze.

A campaign to get consumers here to buy green products has collected more than 6,800 of the 50,000 signatures it hopes to get.

The aim is to send a message to companies that consumers insist on clean air and the use of sustainable sources, according to the organisers - the World Wide Fund for Nature Singapore, the People's Movement to Stop Haze (PM Haze), and the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.

PM Haze had a booth at yesterday's EarthFest event at the Marina Barrage, and collected more than 100 signatures. More importantly, its volunteers got a chance to spread its message.

Volunteer Jeremias Kuay, 24, a fresh graduate, said: "People seem to be very concerned about the haze. They approached us asking what they can do as an average consumer to help stop the haze. One way to start is by switching to brands that use sustainable palm oil."

Palm oil can be found in many products such as shampoos and instant noodles. One of the main reasons for the haze is the large-scale land clearing for the production of palm oil and paper in Indonesia.

Yesterday, the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings dipped to a 24-hour reading ranging between 85 and 102 at 5pm, which is in the high end of the moderate range and the low end of the unhealthy range - which was good news for EarthFest's organiser - chemistry teacher Michael Broadhead, 32.

Almost 10,000 visitors attended the event which featured 85 booths, some of which highlighted a range of green issues.

Mr Broadhead, who spent $6,000 on the event in collaboration with national water agency PUB, said: "People are now drawing the connection that the haze is being caused by palm oil and paper companies, some of which are Singapore-based."

Dr Ang Peng Hwa from Nanyang Technological University and his volunteer group, Haze Elimination Action Team, are planning to sue and boycott companies responsible for the haze-causing fires.

They are looking for groups which have incurred losses of a few thousand dollars, such as hotels and tour agencies which had bookings cancelled, to sue these firms.

Five companies were linked to the fires, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan last Friday. The Transboundary Haze Pollution Act passed in Parliament last year makes errant companies liable for civil claims.

Dr Ang said: "It's really not so much the act of suing and winning per se, but more the reputational damage it will cause."

Read more!

Singapore takes Indonesian companies to task over haze role

SIAU MING EN Today Online 26 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE — Wielding the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act for the first time since it was passed last year, Singapore has served “preventive measure notices” on four Indonesian companies deemed responsible for the latest bout of haze, which hit hazardous levels today (Sept 25) and forced schools islandwide to shut down.

The notices require the firms to deploy fire-fighting personnel to extinguish or prevent the spread of any fire on land owned or occupied by them, and discontinue any burning activities on such land, among other things.

Today, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading peaked at 322 at 8am while the three-hour PSI reading hit a high of 341 at 5am. The air quality improved in the late morning to midday, before the three-hour PSI crept up again to 168 at 8pm. The 24-hour PSI is expected to remain in the “very unhealthy” range (201-300) today and may gradually fall to the high end of the “unhealthy” range (101-200).

The errant firms were identified today as PT Rimba Hutani Mas, PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries, PT Bumi Sriwijaya Sentosa and PT Wachyuni Mandira. Based on the National Environment Agency’s (NEA) investigations so far, they hold concessions to the lands where the fires may have originated and contributed to the haze here.

The NEA has also served notice on a fifth Indonesian company Asia Pulp & Paper Company - which has an office here - to provide information on its subsidiaries here and in Indonesia, as well as the measures taken by its suppliers in Indonesia to put out fires in their concessions.

The Government is also examining ways to apply more economic pressure against errant companies, and reviewing its procurement practices to see how it can weed these companies, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan in a media briefing yesterday.

For example, the Government will look into how it can support companies which are recognised by their industry or by international bodies to have instituted sustainable practices. “As far as possible, this would take into account the practices of their suppliers further down the supply chain to ensure that they meet social and environmental standards,” the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) said.

Dr Balakrishnan described the haze as a “serious man-made recurring problem” that has “gone on for far too long”. “This cannot be tolerated,” he said.

Adding that the Government has been in constant contact with its Indonesian counterparts, Dr Balakrishnan said the NEA has been gathering information through the close monitoring of hotspots and smoke plumes from fires in the region, drawing on information from sources such as maps, meteorological data and satellite imagery.

Under the Act, haze pollution is stipulated as occasions where the 24-hour PSI remain above 100 for at least 24 hours. Since Sept 10, there have been four such episodes. The first breach of the Act on Sept 10 lasted 41 hours, and the second on Sept 12 lasted 109 hours, The third on Sept 19 went on for 33 hours. The latest breach began on Tuesday, and is still ongoing - having lasted for more than 72 hours so far.

Dr Balakrishnan said the NEA had sent Indonesia the coordinates of the hotspots that were detected over Sumatra, and requested that the Indonesian authorities analyse the coordinates and share the names of the companies that hold concessions in these areas.

Responding to sceptism towards the Act’s effectiveness, Dr Balakrishnan said Singapore is “certainly in a better position now than in the past where we didn’t have any levers at all”. He reiterated that for companies that are causing haze in Singapore, they “now have to be very careful” if they have any dealings or presence here. “I will not say this is a panacea... but there must be no doubt in the minds of the owners and the key executives of these companies that greater transparency and liability if going to be attached to actions of errant companies,” he said.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Vice-President Jusuf Kalla has again claimed that Indonesia need not apologise to neighbouring countries over the transboundary haze problem. He was quoted as saying on Indonesian news site kompas.com during a dialogue session with Indonesians in New York at the Indonesian Consulate-General yesterday: “Look at how long they have enjoyed fresh air from our green environment and forests when there were no fires. Could be months. Are they grateful? But when forest fires occur, a month at the most, haze pollutes their regions. So why should there be an apology?”

Yesterday, Foreign Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam had sharp words for the Indonesian authorities in a Facebook post, describing the comments made by some senior officials as “shocking” and “with a complete disregard for our people, and their own”.


NEA sends notice to 4 Indonesian firms with suspected links to fires
From NEA investigations, haze-causing fires may have occurred on land concessions held by four Indonesian companies. It has served notice to another Indonesian company with an office in Singapore seeking information on its subsidiaries.
Xabryna Kek Channel NewsAsia 25 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE: Hazy conditions in the Very Unhealthy range are expected to persist through Saturday (Sep 26), said the National Environment Agency (NEA).

In a media briefing, NEA said that at 5am on Friday, the reading on the 3-hour Pollutants Standard Index (PSI) hit a high of 341 this year, before dipping to below 100 for a few hours in the afternoon. The 24-hour PSI also hit a high of 322 at 8am.

SCHOOLS TO REOPEN ON MONDAY (SEP 28) UNLESS AIR QUALITY REACHES HAZARDOUS LEVEL

The Ministry of Education (MOE) ordered all primary and secondary schools to close on Friday after haze levels reached Hazardous levels on Thursday.

NEA said that as of 10.30am on Friday, about 3,300 students reported to school, which is less than 1 per cent of the total primary and secondary school cohort. As of 4pm, about 30 students reported to the ten MOE kindergartens, which is about three per cent of the total cohort.

About 98 per cent of childcare centres received children, added NEA, as these "cater to working parents who may not have alternative arrangements".

All primary and secondary schools will reopen on Monday, unless NEA's 24-hour PSI forecast issued on Sunday (Sep 27) evening indicates that the air quality could be at the Hazardous level.

Should there be school closures, MOE will issue a press release and parents will be informed through schools on Sunday.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said that the haze is a man-made problem which has gone on for too long.

"It cannot be tolerated. It has caused major impact on the health, society and economy of our region," said Dr Balakrishnan. "Just yesterday we had to close our primary and secondary schools. The last time we had to take this measure was in 2003 during the SARS episode."

He added that the Singapore Government has been in "constant contact" with Indonesian officials and commended Indonesia on their efforts in fighting the fires.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Foreign Affairs K Shanmugam, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen and Dr Balakrishnan have all communicated directly with the Indonesian authorities on Sep 17, 18, 10, and 14 respectively.

"We have repeatedly offered our assistance, and asked for information on companies suspected to have caused the fires," he said.

TRANSBOUNDARY HAZE POLLUTION ACT IN EFFECT

NEA also said that the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014 (THPA) came into effect on Friday. The threshold for the act is the 24-hour PSI remaining at 101 or higher for 24 continuous hours or longer.

Since Sep 10, NEA said the haze pollution under THPA has occurred over four periods.

1. From 10am on Sep 10 to 2am on Sep 12: Continuous period of 41 hours;

2. From 8pm on Sep 12 to 8am on Sep 17: Continuous period of 109 hours;

3. From 1am on Sep 19 to 9am on Sep 20: Continuous period of 33 hours; and

4. From 5pm on Sep 22 and ongoing: Continuous period of 72 hours and still counting as of Sep 25, 5pm.

NEA is currently investigating and gathering evidence through ongoing monitoring of hotspots and smoke plumes from fires, and obtaining information from sources such as maps, meteorological data and satellite imagery. They can also ask the company to undertake preventive measures, discontinue or not start burning activities, and submit a plan of action to extinguish or prevent the spread of fire.

Dr Balakrishnan added that Indonesia has taken some positive measures. "They informed us that thousands of troops and some aircraft had been deployed to engage in fire-fighting efforts," he said. On Indonesia's Sumatra island, the license of a company has been revoked by the Environment and Forestry Ministry, and three companies that operate palm oil plantations have also been suspended.

So far, NEA has sent Preventative Measure Notices to four companies suspected of starting fires, and written to Indonesian officials for the names of errant companies. From its investigations, haze-causing fires may have occurred on land concessions held by four Indonesian companies. The companies are: PT Rimba Hutani Mas, PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries, PT Bumi Sriwijaya Sentosa and PT Wachyuni Mandira.

In addition, NEA has served notice to Asia Pulp and Paper Company, an Indonesian company with an office in Singapore, seeking information on its subsidiaries in Singapore and Indonesia, as well as measures taken by its suppliers in Indonesia to put out fires in their concessions.

The maximum fine for companies found guilty of starting fires is S$100,000 per day, capped at S$2 million in total.

"We will share our results with the public whenever possible," said Dr Balakrishnan. "The Government will also review our procurement practices to see how we can weed out errant companies. We will therefore expect companies to be transparent about their supply chains, particularly those involved in the palm oil and forestry sectors. Ultimately, errant companies must know there must be a price to be paid for damaging our health, the environment and economy."

- CNA/wl


Singapore presses Asia Pulp & Paper for information on forest fires
Reuters 25 Sep 15;

Singapore has called on Asia Pulp & Paper Co Ltd (APP) to check whether its subsidiaries and suppliers have any connection with the recent forest fires in Indonesia, which have caused a thick smog to envelop the city state.

Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) also said in a statement that it has separately sent notices to four other Indonesian companies, accusing them of contributing to the pollution.

Unlisted APP, a member of Indonesia's Sinar Mas group, is a major supplier of paper, pulp and packaging in Asia.

A spokeswoman for APP in Jakarta said it has not received a notice from Singapore to date.

The announcement came after Singapore shut primary and secondary schools on Friday as worsening pollution caused air the quality to deteriorate to what the authorities said were very unhealthy levels.

Southeast Asia has suffered for years from annual bouts of smog caused by slash-and-burn practices in Indonesia's Sumatra and Kalimantan islands, but governments in the region have failed to address the problem.

The fires have been exacerbated this year by the effects of the El Nino weather phenomenon, as a prolonged dry season in Indonesia has parched the top soil, fuelling the flames.

NEA said the government is currently examining how to apply more economic pressure against errant companies.

"Ultimately, errant companies must know that there is a price to be paid for damaging our health, environment and economy," the statement quoted Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan as saying.

Singapore passed a cross-border air pollution law last year that makes those who cause haze both criminally and civilly liable.

(Reporting by Saeed Azhar, with additional reporting by Nicholas Owen in Jakarta; Editing by Greg Mahlich)


S'pore clamps down on five firms over haze
Chang Ai-Lien and Audrey Tan, Straits Times AsiaOne 26 Sep 15;

In its toughest anti-haze measure yet, Singapore has begun legal action against five companies it believes are among the culprits behind Indonesia's polluting fires.

It has also slammed statements from Indonesian officials over the crisis that forced the Republic to close schools yesterday when air quality became hazardous.

Naming the firms for the first time yesterday, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan stressed that the haze was a man-made problem that should not be tolerated.

"Ultimately, errant companies must know that there is a price to be paid for damaging our health, environment and economy," he said.

Haze levels here peaked at a 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading of 267 to 322 at 8am yesterday. They improved slightly later but remained very unhealthy.

The three-hour PSI showed greater fluctuations - hitting 341 at 5am and dropping to 80 at 2pm, before rising again to 154 at 9pm.

Unhealthy haze pollution - when the 24-hour PSI is over 100 for at least 24 hours - has occurred four times since Sept 10.

The National Environment Agency (NEA), which has been gathering evidence by monitoring hot spots, smoke plumes, maps, meteorological data and satellite images, yesterday served Singapore-listed firm Asia Pulp and Paper a legal notice to supply information on its subsidiaries in Singapore and Indonesia, as well as measures taken by its suppliers in Indonesia to put out fires in their concessions.

Four Indonesian companies - Rimba Hutani Mas, Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries, Bumi Sriwijaya Sentosa and Wachyuni Mandira - have been told to take measures to extinguish fires on their land, not to start new ones, and submit action plans on how they will prevent future fires.

Under Singapore's Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, those guilty can be fined up to $100,000 a day, capped at $2 million, for causing unhealthy haze.

Dr Balakrishnan said Singapore will put economic pressure on errant firms. The Government is looking at how to support those with sustainable practices down the supply chain, particularly those in the palm oil and forestry sectors.

The results of the NEA's ongoing investigations will also be made public.

Government leaders here, including Law and Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam, spoke out against comments from Indonesian officials.

Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla, for instance, has repeatedly said Indonesia need not apologise to its neighbours over the haze.

Singapore has offered to help fight the haze-causing fires five times, an offer Indonesia has yet to take up.

Primary, secondary schools to reopen Monday unless haze back to hazardous levels
Shea Driscoll, Audrey Tan, Yeo Sam Jo, Straits Times AsiaOne 26 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE - Primary and secondary schools will reopen on Monday (Sept 28) unless the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) forecast on Sunday indicates that a hazardous level of haze is expected.

If so, the Ministry of Education will consider closing schools again, it announced in a multi-agency haze briefing on Friday (Sept 25) evening. Parents will be informed through the schools if that happens.

About 3,300 students - less than 1 per cent of the total primary and secondary school cohort - reported to school on Friday morning despite the late announcement yesterday evening to shut schools.

The Education Ministry, in consultation with the Health Ministry, made the decision to close schools just before 8.30pm on Thursday, based on the National Environment Agency's (NEA) 7pm forecast.

Students who went to school today were held indoor areas like libraries and computer labs, and took part in self-directed learning and group activities.

About 30 children reported to the 10 MOE kindergartens, 3 per cent of the total cohort.

At other kindergartens and childcare centres, lessons and programmes were scaled down. Kindergarten attendance was largely low. Fifty per cent of kindergartens saw no children attending.

On the other hand, 98 per cent of childcare centres received children but in reduced numbers.

At the briefing, Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said the Government will be reviewing its sustainable procurement policy to weed out errant companies, and look into supporting firms that are recognised for their sustainable practices.

He said: "As far as possible, this will take into account the practices of their suppliers and their logistics chain to make sure they meet both social and environment standards."

Dr Balakrishnan added: "Companies trying to do business in Singapore now have to be very careful as we are investigating, demanding transparency."

Dr Balakrishnan also identified four Indonesian companies that are suspected to have links to the fires that are causing the haze. They are: PT Rimba Hutani Mas, PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries, PT Bumi Sriwijaya Sentosa and PT Wachyuni Mandira. He said these firms have been issued a notice, requesting them to deploy measures including sending firefighting personal to extinguish fires and discontinuing any burning activities.

The NEA has served one Singapore company, Asia Pulp & Paper Company Ltd, a notice under Section 10 of the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act seeking information on its subsidiaries in Singapore and Indonesia, and fire-fighting measures taken by its suppliers in Indonesia.

The authorities said hazy conditions are expected to persist for the rest of Friday and on Saturday (Sept 26) as prevailing winds blow in from the south or south-east.

The 24-hour PSI for the 24 hours is expected to remain in the very unhealthy range and may gradually fall to the high end of the unhealthy range.

Improvements in the situation can be expected over the weekend, but hazy conditions are likely to persist.


Singapore moves against Indonesian firms over haze
AFP Yahoo News 26 Sep 15;

Singapore has launched legal action that could lead to massive fines against Indonesian companies blamed for farm and plantation fires spewing unhealthy levels of air pollution over the city-state.

Five Indonesian companies including multinational Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) have been served with legal notices, according to a Singapore government statement issued late Friday.

The move followed a bitter diplomatic spat over Indonesia's failure to stop a severe outbreak of smoky haze which has also affected Malaysia and persisted for years.

APP, part of Indonesia's Sinar Mas conglomerate, is one of the world's largest pulp and paper groups and publicly upholds "sustainability" and forest conservation as core principles. Its products include stationery and toilet paper.

APP was asked by Singapore's National Environment Agency to supply information on its subsidiaries operating in Singapore and Indonesia, as well as measures taken by its suppliers in Indonesia to put out fires in their concessions.

The group, which has paper mills in Indonesia and China, did not immediately reply when asked by AFP for comment.

Under a 2014 law called the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, Singapore can impose a fine of Sg$100,000 ($70,000) for each day that a local or foreign company contributes to unhealthy levels of haze pollution in Singapore, subject to a maximum total of Sg$2.0 million.

Singapore is located near Indonesia's vast Sumatra island, where fires have traditionally been set off by farmers and plantations to clear land for cultivation.

Four other Indonesian companies -- Rimba Hutani Mas, Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries, Bumi Sriwijaya Sentosa and Wachyuni Mandira -- have been told to take measures to extinguish fires on their land, refrain from starting new ones, and submit action plans to prevent future fires.

Sinar Mas is also involved in palm oil production, an industry widely blamed for forest fires in Indonesia.

In its statement issued Friday, the Singapore government said it was "examining how to apply more economic pressure against errant companies," including a review of its own procurement policies.

Singapore's Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said the haze problem has lasted "for far too long".

"This is not a natural disaster. Haze is a man-made problem that should not be tolerated. It has caused major impact on the health, society and economy of our region," he said in the statement.

Singapore declared emergency shutdowns of elementary and high schools on Friday after the air pollutant index hit "hazardous" levels.

It eased to "moderate" levels on Saturday but a shift in wind direction can quickly change the situation.

The current haze outbreak is the worst since mid-2013. The recurring crisis grips Southeast Asia nearly every year during the dry season.

Singapore officials have reacted with outrage to Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla's comments that Indonesia's neighbours should be grateful for good air quality most of the year, and that Jakarta need not apologise for the crisis.

Indonesia has previously said that Singapore-based companies were among those responsible for the blazes.

About 3,000 troops and police have been sent to Sumatra to fight the fires, with Indonesian authorities saying last week that it would take a month to bring them under control.

Read more!

Singapore slams Indonesia over haze response as schools shut

Martin Abbugao AFP Yahoo News 25 Sep 15;

Singapore slammed "shocking" statements from Indonesian officials over a haze crisis as it closed all schools and distributed protective face masks Friday 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 primary and secondary schools as well as government-run 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, which has long strained relations among affected countries including Malaysia.

He was joined by former prime minister Goh Chok Tong who said Friday 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.

"The haze is their litmus test for effective administration and regional leadership," added Goh, who is now an elected MP who holds the honorary title emeritus senior minister.

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.

- 'Never thanked us' -

Shanmugan 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 neighbours 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 neighbours should also take note of Jakarta's efforts to contain the fires.

"The president has stated that all force has been mobilised, we are going all out to put out the fires by water-bombing and weather modification," he told AFP.

"The president has also directly visited the impacted area, and this shows how serious we are in handling the forest fires and haze," he said, referring to Indonesian leader Joko Widodo's trip to smog-choked areas on the Indonesian part of Borneo island.

Haze conditions in Singapore improved somewhat throughout Friday and fell below the level considered hazardous but remained in the "very unhealthy" range.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that Singapore has offered Indonesia help in putting out the fires "and asked them to share with us the identity of companies responsible for causing the haze".

Indonesia has previously said that Singapore-based companies were among those responsible for the blazes, caused by smallholders and agricultural companies using burning as a method to clear land for plantations during summer.

Under pressure from its neighbours to stop the annual haze, Widodo has pledged to crack down on companies and individuals behind the burnings.

About 3,000 troops and police have been sent to Sumatra to fight the fires, with Indonesian authorities saying last week it would take a month to bring them under control.

Indonesian environment ministry spokesman Eka W. Sugiri said 25 aircraft have been deployed to fight the fires through water-bombing and chemically inducing rainfall.

Read more!

Indonesia should not have to apologise for the haze, says VP Kalla again

Today Online 25 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE — Indonesia should not have to apologise to its neighbours for the haze, Vice President Jusuf Kalla reportedly told Indonesians yesterday (Sept 24).

In a near repeat of a statement he had made in March this year, Mr Kalla reportedly said that Indonesia’s neighbours should be thankful for the months of fresh air that the nation’s forests bring.

The Indonesian news site Kompas quoted Mr Kalla as telling a group of Indonesians at a dialogue session at the Indonesian Consulate General in New York: “How many months do you think everybody (our neighbours) enjoys the fresh air from our green environment and our forests when there are no fires? It could be months. Are they thankful? But when forest fires occur, it at most lasts for a month, the haze pollutes their territories. So why should we apologise?”

In March, Mr Kalla had said, as quoted by the Jakarta Globe: “For 11 months, they (our neighbours) enjoyed nice air from Indonesia and they never thanked us. They have suffered because of the haze for one month and they get upset.”

In addition, Mr Kalla also reportedly said yesterday that companies from neighbouring countries were paying locals to clear lands using the slash-and-burn technique.

Mr Kalla also claimed that it was foreigners, who needed land between 1960-1970, who initially taught Indonesians how to destroy the forests. “As a result, in the name of development, our forests were cut down,” Mr Kalla said.

The Indonesian Vice President did say that Indonesia must handle the forest fire issue so that the haze will not happen again.

He added that besides preventing forest fires, the government has issued a ban on logging and a moratorium on land use, including opening new land for plantations.

Read more!

Classes cancelled due to haze, but some still turned up at school

Kimberly Spykerman, News 5 Channel NewsAsia 25 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE: Classes in primary and secondary schools were cancelled on Friday (Sep 25) because of the worsening haze situation. However, schools stayed open to look after students whose parents were unable to make last-minute childcare arrangements.

At De La Salle School in Choa Chu Kang, for example, 20 students showed up in the morning. Said Ms Daphne Sing, the school’s principal: "Most of their parents are at work and they have no other caregivers so we do the necessary to help the parents take care of their children."

Teachers were on duty to keep the children occupied in the school library till it was time to head home. Ms Sing elaborated: "Earlier this morning when they came in, they were in a little room reading books, doing some quiet revision of their work.

"Later on, we felt we should occupy them with some fun activities. Or else it is terrible to sit down all the time. So we decided to give them games and we divided them into stations, so they could actually move from one station to another."

For older students preparing for the Primary School Leaving Examination next week, heading to school was a chance to get some studying done. "My parents are always working. When they are not at home, I tend to do a lot of things - sit down, watch TV, play computer games. So to get away from all of that, I came to school today to study, said one student, Abhiramarooban Katherasn.

If the haze worsens and schools continue to stay closed, some principals said that plans are already in place for home-based learning - for example, through e-learning portals. This will ensure continuity in their students' lessons.

Principal of Si Ling Primary School, Mr Richard Lim, noted: "Right now, they can actually get into the portal because we already have some lessons there. And they can do some work there. But because it is just one day, we will wait until it is a long closure, then we will download a lot more programmes and lessons into it."

Fourteen students had turned up at Si Ling Primary School - located in Woodlands - which stayed open till 6.30pm. They too were kept busy with activities like educational games.

Meanwhile, kindergartens and childcare centres stayed open but activities were scaled down and kept indoors.

Social and Family Development Minister Tan Chuan-Jin commented: "It is a recognition that with preschool children, it is a bit different. Primary school and above, I think children are a bit more independent, preschool a bit less so. And if parents do not have childcare arrangements, it can be a bit difficult.

“But in reality, what happens on the ground is largely the same. Parents who are not so comfortable, they prefer to keep children at home - please by all means do so. But if they do not have the child-minding arrangements, then they are able to bring the children to school and the children will be looked after."

At both EtonHouse preschool in Newton and childcare centre Smiling Star, just about half the usual number of students turned up on Friday morning.

The Education Ministry said about 98 per cent of childcare centres received children though attendance was lower, and about 3,300 students reported to school, less than 1 per cent of the total primary and secondary school cohort.

- CNA/ms


Firms take steps to ensure workers’ safety, health amid haze
At one construction site for example, an alarm will go off when the PSI hits hazardous levels. Workers will have to gather at a well-ventilated point where their supervisors will check on their well-being.
Leong Wai Kit, News 5 Channel NewsAsia 25 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE: Many companies with staff working outdoors have taken steps to ensure their workers' safety and health are taken care of. Some are ready to stop work if the haze gets worse.

For example, at one construction site in Woodlands, if the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hits hazardous levels, an alarm will go off.

Explained Mr Henry Ho, corporate workplace safety and health manager at Shanghai Tunnel Engineering: "Everyone will gather at the assembly area. From there, we will check who is feeling unwell and we will conduct a 'water parade' at our rest area. Those who are not feeling well will take a rest and if they are still feeling unwell, we will take them to see our company doctor.

“The workers are worried about the haze because it is getting more serious and that is why we issue them new masks every day. And at our rest areas, we have mist fans and real-time updates on the haze levels."

Meanwhile, ISOTEAM supplies its workers with N95 masks. They are also given fruits and water every day. And if anyone falls sick from the haze, they will be sent to the doctor for free.

Mr Richard Chan, general manager of ISOTEAM, said: "We practise rotation of work. The scope of work we do consists of both internal and external work. Under normal circumstances, the external team and the internal teams will perform their respective job scopes throughout the day.

“Since the outbreak of the haze, we have started shift work. The group of workers who are working in the external environment will work for a period of time before switching with the workers in the internal environment."

Over at Changi Airport, staff are told to turn on floodlights at hangars to improve visibility. Staff have also been told to cut down on non-essential outdoor work such as landscaping.

Meanwhile, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said it had advised the shipping community to monitor the PSI closely. It has told service providers to stick with the authorities' guidelines on working amid the worsening haze.

Fast food companies like KFC and Pizza Hut will stop delivery services when the PSI goes beyond 300. Both companies suspended delivery service on Thursday (Sep 24) when the air quality hit Hazardous levels. Delivery staff have been given N95 masks and bottles of water as well.

Another food delivery service Foodpanda said its riders have been given antibacterial wipes on top of N95 masks. It said closure decisions are on a "case-by-case basis" but it called off service when the PSI soared past 300.

The Manpower Ministry said it has inspectors who will be looking out for companies which disregard the safety and health of their workers. When they chance upon such companies, the authorities could issue a stop-work order. Employers who do not comply with this order face a maximum penalty of a S$500,000 fine and a year's jail.

- CNA/ms

Online post on voluntary day off for workers is fake: MOM
An online post stating that employers are encouraged to give a paid day off for staff on Sep 25 due to worsening air quality is fake, says the Ministry of Manpower.
Channel NewsAsia 25 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE: An online post claiming to be from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) declaring a voluntary paid day off for workers due to the haze is fake, said the ministry on Friday (Sep 25).

“It has come to our attention that a post claiming to be from MOM, regarding the haze, has been circulating,” said MOM in a Facebook post. “MOM would like to state that this post is fake and the contents are not true.”

The alleged post stated that MOM has declared Sep 25 a "Voluntary Non-Work" day, and "employers will be encouraged to give a paid day off to their staff".

“While there is no national shutdown of workplaces, employers should not compromise the health and safety of their employees as they continue functioning,” MOM added.

The ministry also urged members of the public to only use the official MOM website and Facebook page for information. MOM has filed a police report over the matter.


All primary and secondary schools on Friday suspended classes as air quality reached Hazardous levels on Thursday night.


Teachers swing into action as schools close
STACEY LIM Today Online 25 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE — While it was a break from the usual school day for students, educators were busy putting into action plans drawn up for the Republic’s first school closure due to the threat of hazardous levels of haze.

Teachers uploaded modules onto schools’ e-learning portals for students whose parents chose to keep them at home, so that they had something to work on. Others were charged with supervising the handful who turned up at schools, down to bringing to them their meals in the air-conditioned spaces they were housed in.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) said about 3,300 students reported to schools as at 10.30am today (Sept 25), less than 1 per cent of the total cohort of primary- and secondary-school students. Schools are expected to re-open on Monday, unless the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) is forecast to go over 300.

De La Salle School principal Daphne Sing said schools have been prepared for such an occasion, since the historic episode of haze in 2013 when the three-hour PSI reached 401. For those at home, the school has a “Ask n Learn” forum, which allows students to do revision on their own at home.

About 23 students had showed up in the morning. They were brought to the library, where they could play board games such as Scrabble or Bingo. A teacher was also present, reading a book to students. Si Ling Primary School principal Richard Lim said should a closure be ordered when the Primary School Leaving Examination take place, students can sit for the exams in air-conditioned rooms with air purifiers. The 13 students who reported to the school today were placed in the student care centre and library, and teachers brought food from the canteen for students so they did not have to leave the premises.

Speaking at a media briefing this evening, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said the decision to close schools was the right one, given how air quality was indeed at hazardous levels in the morning, before improving later in the day.

Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin, when asked whether the haze announcements came too late yesterday night, assured that decisions were not “made on the fly”. “All this has been discussed within the agencies for the past few years… every year we will review it, make sure we improve it, but the system is largely in place,” he said.

Mrs Sing acknowledged that some parents did not receive the information until early morning as the school’s system was “a little bit slow”, but said schools remained open to students whose parents could not make necessary care arrangements.

Parents interviewed by TODAY were largely satisfied with the schools’ arrangements, but some said the schools’ e-learning systems appeared to be overwhelmed at times. Said Ms Serene Ng, 34, a mother of two boys in primary school: “The websites are facing technical issues with so many kids accessing at the same time ... this could be very frustrating.”

Ms Joey Tan, 38, a mother of two primary school children, said the school had planned for different levels to log in at different times, but the system still hung, before recovering around 2pm.

In response to queries, the MOE said each school runs its own online learning management systems, and schools work with vendors to increase bandwidth, or advise parents to log in at different time slots, to prepare for heavy online traffic.

Apart from these systems, students can also study out of textbooks and other internet resources when at home.

Childcare centres and kindergartens, meanwhile, remained open while scaling down their programmes, but parents could also keep their children home as a precaution.

Half the kindergartens had no children in attendance, while childcare centres were 98 per cent full. At Apricot Academy, 11 out of the usual 47 children were present. Principal Sabiah Jabar said: “This is a compliment to us and a sign that they trust us to take care of their children.”

Pre-schools took steps to protect their charges’ health. Nurture Cottage Preschool and Childcare kept its main door and windows shut to keep out as much haze as possible. Dropping off his four-year-old son at the centre today, Mr Adrian Lum, said: “(It is) not easy to find someone to take care of my kid, but I (know) that the school will take care of him.” ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY MARISSA YEO, TOH EE MING AND FRANCIS LAW


Games, enrichment programmes and meals for students in school on Friday
Today Online 25 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE — Some students who went to school today (Sept 25) despite the announced closure were given board games to play, while others had enrichment programmes prepared for them. Some students had their meals delivered to them by teachers, who did not want them to brave the haze while they buy food from outside the school.

Yesterday, as the haze worsened, the Government declared the closure of primary and secondary schools. Parents who were unable to make alternative care arrangements were told they could still send their children to school and teachers would supervise them.

According to authorities, about 3,300 students reported to school today as of 10.30am, less than 1 per cent of the total cohort of Primary and Secondary school students.

In line with the announced school closure, both the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) and MENDAKI announced today that they had suspended their tuition classes for today and tomorrow. The two organisations said they were reaching out to parents via phone or SMS to inform them of the closures.

MENDAKI centre supervisors and head tutors will still be at the tuition centres to receive and assist students who may have missed the announcement, the Malay self-help group said. It has also prepared materials, such as YouTube Mathematics videos and mock-exam papers, online for students who may want to continue their exam preparations.

CDAC will also have Tuition Centre supervisors stationed at its tuition centres to assist parents and students who may have missed the announcement.

Earlier today, Principal of Si Ling Primary School, Mr Lim Chew Hiong Richard, said 13 students, most in the Primary 3 and 4 levels, came in the morning. Parents usually fetch their children at 1pm but the students can stay in school until 6pm, he said.

Students were placed at the school’s student care centre and library. In the library, two teachers and one librarian would be present, with teachers on an hourly rotation. Another room has been set aside for more students, said Mr Lim.

Two air purifiers were placed in the library and teachers will bring food to the students, he added. The students in the library were seen on their laptops playing educational games online. There were also enrichment programmes to keep students occupied.

De La Salle School principal Daphne Sing, 53, said about 20 to 23 students had showed up and were housed in the library, where they could play board games. A teacher was also at the library reading a book to students.

Primary six student Abhiramarooban Katherasn, at De La Salle School said: “The teachers here are very helpful. During the haze in the morning ... they actually help us buy food. ... They don’t want us to go out so that we can stay healthy for exams (and) not fall sick.”

At Clementi Primary School and Nan Hua Primary School between 7am and 7.30am, a few parents were seen bringing their children to school. Nan Hua Primary School principal Becky Neo said that about 11 pupils came to the school.

CHILDCARE CENTRES TAKE PRECAUTIONS

While schools were shut, several childcare centres were in operation today for parents with no alternatives for childcare.

A spokesperson from My First Skool said it has “an established set of operating procedures for various haze alert levels”. Today, it scaled down lessons and programmes while remaining open. Precautionary measures such as shutting the windows, deploying air purifiers and keeping children indoors in air-conditioned rooms are in place.

“We need to continue to support working parents as many will not have alternative care arrangements. For the children under our care, their health and well-being remain of utmost importance,” said the spokesperson.

“We have also advised our staff to take preventive measures to stay indoors and take care of their health amidst potential ill effects from haze exposure.”

Other preschools TODAY visited also said they have taken the necessary measures to protect the children.

At Apricot Academy, 11 out of the usual 47 children were present. Principal Sabiah Jabar said: “Actually, this is a compliment to us and a sign that they trust us to take care of their children.”

The Nurture Cottage Preschool and Childcare has closed its main door and all windows to keep out as much haze as possible. “Despite this haze condition, our school will be open (as usual), but we have already informed the parents so they have a choice to send their children here,” said Ms Tina Lim, Director of The Nurture Cottage Preschool and Childcare.

Ms Jackie Foley, 31, a parent of two daughters aged three and five, walked to The Nurture Cottage Preschool and Childcare. “The teacher was actually rushing me to close the door as I was taking quite some time to drop them off at the main door as one of my children had a cast on his leg,” she said.

Another parent, Mr Adrian Lum, who also dropped off his four-year-old son said: “This haze condition is very last minute and (it is) not easy to find someone to take care of my kid, but I (know) that the school will take care of him.”

REPORTING STACEY LIM, MARISSA YEO, FRANCIS LAW


Business as usual thanks to brief respite from haze
NG JING YNG Today Online 26 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE — It was business as usual yesterday for workers of all stripes, who made their way to work under choking smog as the three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) stayed above 300 between 6am and 8am.

But within hours, the skies began to clear — the PSI reading was 84 at 1pm — and many employees in the Central Business District took the chance to head outdoors and get some fresh air. The respite was brief, however, and the PSI reading crept back up in the evening, reaching 168 at 8pm.

When TODAY visited Raffles Place at around 10am, many office workers were spotted sitting around the grass patches next to the MRT station, chatting with friends or grabbing a bite as they basked under the blue skies. Compliance officer Desmond Lim, 38, said he relished the opportunity to leave his office for lunch. “It doesn’t feel that bad that I need to be putting on a mask,” said Mr Lim.

Part-time cleaner Lily Teng, 65, also ventured outdoors to clean the outside of a shop’s glass doors. “It looks okay to be working outside for a while,” she said, adding that she had gotten a call early in the morning from her son reminding her to stay indoors.

Ms Natalie Yap, 26, who works in a brokerage, said she brought an inhaler with her as she has mild asthma. “It is hard for me to work from home because of the nature of our work ... But we are in the office most of the time, so it is all right,” she said.

For those who have to brave the elements, such as security guards and deliverymen, the respite was welcomed too. Nevertheless, they said that they had taken precautionary measures. Certis Cisco security guard Susela P, 53, said her supervisors had urged them to don masks and also reminded them to drink lots of water.

“We were all given masks to wear and were told to put it on at all times, especially when we are going outdoors,” she said. She added that she has her own concoction — hot water mixed with turmeric powder and white pepper — that she drinks during this hazy period.

Mr Rasul Mohd Amin, 26, who works as a courier, said that over the past few days, he had been coughing and experiencing some difficulty in breathing. “Our company told us to do our deliveries at a slower pace if necessary … I am trying not to over-exert myself,” he said.

Meanwhile, work carried on at several construction sites that TODAY visited across the island. Precautions were taken at most of the sites, although at one site, the workers were spotted with surgical masks, which are not effective in filtering the fine particles that can be found in the air.

Construction companies TODAY spoke to said they started distributing N95 masks to their workers, from as early as last week.

Ms Shirley Too, Welltech Construction’s Workplace Safety and Health officer, said her company has made it compulsory for the workers to wear the masks when the three-hour PSI reading is above 200. When the three-hour PSI level rose above 300 in the wee hours of yesterday, all outdoor activities were scaled down and only work indoors was done until 10am when the situation improved.

Mr Lim Kim Soon, site manager at the Vine Grove project, noted that it was not easy to ensure that workers wear the masks. “They find it too uncomfortable ... Once they think the sky looks clear, they’ll take off. We can’t be watching them 24 hours.”

KTC Group CEO Rajan Krishnan said that his workers are given rest periods every three hours or so if the air quality is at a unhealthy level, depending on what work they are doing. “Anybody can report (to the management) if they feel unwell,” he said.

Mr Bernard Menon, executive director of Migrant Workers’ Centre, said he and his staff went around the western part of the island to hand out masks to workers who were working outdoors but not wearing masks. They wanted to educate the workers on the dangers of not protecting themselves, he said.

Meanwhile, the Building Construction and Timber Industries Employees’ Union (BATU) issued a haze health advisory to all its unionised branches. Its industry relations officers would be monitoring adherence to the guidelines. BATU has also distributed 3,000 face masks to unionised companies that requested for them, and its officials have also gone on-site to give out 1,000 N95 masks to conservancy and public cleaning workers.


Haze hazardous, but it's business as usual in S’pore on Friday morning
Today Online 25 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE — As haze hit hazardous levels early this morning (Sept 25), it was business as usual in most parts of the island even as workers took precautions against the smog.

In the central business district, Ms Susela P, 53, a Certis Cisco security guard working at the area along Market Street said: “We were all given masks to wear and were told to put it on at all times, especially when we are going outdoors.”

“The weather today is already not so bad... I am feeling alright, throat feels slightly dry but we are also told to drink lots of water to stay hydrated”.

Mr Rasul Mohd Amin, 26, dispatch and courier worker said: “Our company told us to take a slower pace in our deliveries and rest if we are feeling tired. I am coughing a little but I try to stay hydrated and also take things slowly.”

Ms Natalie Yap, 26, who works in a brokerage said: “I have slight asthma so I am being more careful, keeping my inhaler at hand all the times. I think we are pretty well-sheltered in Singapore, a lot of indoor spaces and public transport are all air-conditioned, so I think it is not too bad.

“It is hard for me to work from home due to the nature of our work in the financial services and we work off our laptop, but we are in the office most of the time, so it is alright”.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) took to Facebook to debunk an online post claiming to be from the ministry, which declared today a "Voluntary Non-Work Day". "MOM would like to state that this post is fake and the contents are not true," said the ministry. "While there is no national shutdown of workplaces, employers should not compromise the health and safety of their employees as they continue functioning. This is especially so for those involved in outdoor work," it added. The MOM later updated that it has lodged a police report on this matter.

Work carried on at several construction sites that TODAY visited in the western part of the island. One construction worker said he and his fellow workers were given masks — normal surgical masks, and not N95 masks — and they started work as usual at about 8am.

Meanwhile, fast food chains announced the resumption of delivery services.

McDonald’s posted on Facebook that McDelivery services resumed from 10.30am. The fast food chain, which said it has taken precautions to protect its delivery staff, added: “Our main concerns are for the welfare of our staff and the satisfaction of our customers. While the haze persists, we ask for your kind understanding that services may be disrupted or delayed, depending on environmental conditions in different parts of Singapore.”

At close to 11am, Pizza Hut and KFC also announced the resumption of delivery service due to improved haze conditions.

The three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI), which had peaked at 341 at 5am, dipped to below 300 at 9am. At 11am the reading was 187 and an hour later, the three-hour PSI had fallen to 126.

As haze conditions worsened, air quality had entered the hazardous range (above 300) at 4am with a reading of 243 to 309. At 12pm, the reading had dipped to 248-306.

All outdoor and non-airconditioned facilities at ActiveSG Sports Centres, however, remained closed, said Sport Singapore in a release today. The facilities will be closed when the 24-hour PSI hits above 200, said Sport SG.

The governing body for sports said that it will assess and re-open these sports facilities when the haze situation improves, to ensure the well-being of people using its sports facilities.

Meanwhile, Singtel has put in place contingency plans if the 3-hour PSI goes over 300 again.

Singtel will temporarily suspend outdoor operations such as work on roof tops, car parks, roadsides and traffic junctions if the 3-hour PSI goes over 300 and continues into the subsequent hour. If the 3-hour PSI level goes above 350, home/office installations and maintenance will stop. Affected customers will be contacted to reschedule their appointments to a later time.

The telco Singtel is also distributing one N95 mask and one surgical mask to each of its 13,000 employees in Singapore as part of its efforts to step up precautionary measures against the haze.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY FRANCIS LAW, NG JING YNG

SportSG to regulate opening hours of sports centres
AMANPREET SINGH Today Online 25 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE — With the worsening haze condition forcing an unprecedented closure of primary and secondary schools for a day today (Sept 25), Sport Singapore are also getting in on the act by regulating their sports facilities’ operating hours to ensure the wellbeing of their users.

The national sports body announced today (Sept 25) that all outdoor and non-air-conditioned facilities at its ActiveSG Centres would be closed to the public if the 24-hr Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) is above 200, while air-conditioned sports halls and gyms will stay open during this period. Sport Singapore will assess and re-open the facilities when haze conditions improve.

“We seek the public’s kind understanding and (advise them to) take necessary health precautions,” said Sport Singapore in a media advisory issued today.

“The health impact of haze is dependent on one’s health status (e.g. whether one has pre-existing chronic heart or lung disease), the PSI level, and the duration and intensity of outdoor activity.

“Reducing outdoor activities and physical exertion can help limit the ill effects from haze exposure. Persons who are not feeling well, especially the elderly and children, and those with chronic heart or lung conditions, should seek medical attention.”

National sports associations have also implemented measures to cope with the haze situation. Singapore Athletics have issued a haze advisory to participants of this weekend’s Singapore Masters Track and Field Championships, stating that the event will carry on if the PSI is below 100, while participants can choose to go ahead at their own discretion if the level is between 101-200. The meet will be cancelled if the PSI hits above 200.

The Football Association of Singapore will also monitor the situation over the weekend, with matches at the Jalan Besar Stadium to be postponed or delayed if the haze gets worse. The LionsXII are scheduled to play their Malaysia Cup group match against Terengganu tomorrow, while S-League teams Courts Young Lions and Tampines Rovers will play at Jalan Besar on Sunday.

Members of the public can refer to the official ActiveSG website (www.myactivesg.com/news/2015/9/health-advisory-on-haze) for the latest updates on the haze and further details of the closure of MyActiveSG sports centres, or the MyActiveSG Facebook page at www.facebook.com/myActiveSG

Schools to reopen on Monday unless hazardous air quality forecast
SIAU MING EN Today Online 26 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE — The 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) is expected to remain in the very unhealthy range and may fall to the high end of unhealthy range over the next 24 hours, but further improvements can be expected over the weekend, the authorities said at a multi-agency briefing this evening (Sept 25).

Schools will resume on Monday for primary and secondary school students unless the National Environment Agency forecasts that haze will be in the hazardous level.

As of 10.30am today, about 3,300 students had reported to schools, which were shut due to threats of hazardous haze. This figure is less than 1 per cent of total primary and secondary school cohort

The authorities said the 24-hour PSI peaked today at 8am, at 322, while the three-hour PSI peaked today at 5am at 341. The readings are the highest since the new air quality reporting system, which incorporates PM2.5 into the PSI, started in April last year.

Bad air keeps people indoors on public holiday
Lim Yi HanTHE STRAITS TIMES AsiaOne 25 Sep 15;

The haze cast a cloud over public holiday plans yesterday as people stayed indoors due to the poor air quality.

Food and beverage businesses were also affected and some country clubs closed their golf courses.

Events manager Winnie Lin, 32, who is 32 weeks pregnant, was unable to walk her dog because of the haze. "I went out in the morning for breakfast but found it very hard to breathe so I'm going to stay indoors and avoid going out," she said.

Auditor Annabel Loh, 26, said: "I planned to do a hike at 5am at MacRitchie Reservoir to prepare for my Bali trekking trip next month.

I would have continued while wearing a mask if the PSI was below 200. However, I had to cancel it."

Mr Eric Lim, 32, went ahead with shopping plans with his wife "to hide indoors in the malls". The corporate communications executive said: "We didn't bring our one- year-old son out. He's staying home with the air-con and air purifier on."

While the pollution did not put a stop to the Korban rituals - which marked Hari Raya Haji - across the island, volunteers at participating mosques were given N95 masks.

Some families were put off making Hari Raya Haji visits to friends and relatives. Preschool teacher Juriana Juhari, 32, said: "My 11-month-old daughter has asthma so we had to stay indoors. We went to the mosque in the morning and went straight home. I wanted to go visiting but decided not to."

Teacher Yati Isnin, 33, who wore a mask outside, added: "We cut down our visits from five to two houses."

Outdoor businesses hoping for a windfall on the public holiday were also disappointed.

Mr Juwanda Hashim, owner of the Fabulous Baker Boy cafe at Fort Canning Hill, said business has fallen by around 30 to 40 per cent over the past three weeks due to the haze.

Mr Seth Kho, manager of Riders Cafe in Bukit Timah, said more than half of its 168 brunch customers cancelled reservations yesterday. "It's really quiet for a public holiday," he said. "We are really affected because of the haze. We have no air-conditioning... We thought it got better last week but suddenly now, it's worse."

It was the same for beachfront Italian eatery Trapizza at Siloso Beach on Sentosa. Supervisor Dioa Jovolin said: "We usually see at least half the restaurant filled on weekends and public holidays, but the haze was so terrible today that we only got three tables of customers."

At electric karting track The Karting Arena, which opened this week at Turf City, fewer people than expected turned up. Owner Yuey Tan said: "It's unfortunate that the haze has worsened in the past few days, but what's important is to stay healthy during this period."

Singapore Island Country Club closed its three golf courses at 6.30am, as well as its outdoor area.

Raffles Country Club closed its two golf courses. "We had some members play in the morning, but because of the situation, we decided to close the golf courses. Reservations were also cancelled," said its operations executive Joeness Lamban. "Usually on a public holiday, or weekends, golf courses are more crowded but we had no choice but to close it." Some outdoor workers remained on duty despite the haze.

Ramky Cleantech Services director Milton Ng said his cleaners working in exposed areas had been issued masks. "We are asked to scale down on certain operations like desilting of drains if the 24-hour PSI goes above 250, but litter bin clearance and mechanical road sweeping still continue," he said. "Singaporeans still litter regardless of the haze."

Additional reporting by Joanna Seow, Kok Xing Hui and Lee Min Kok


Haze forces closure of schools across S'pore
Shoppers put on masks in Orchard Road yesterday afternoon. At 10pm, the 24-hour PSI had soared to 223-275. Beyond 300, it is hazardous.
Joanna Seow, Lester Hio, Francis Chan, Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja THE STRAITS TIMES AsiaOne 25 Sep 15;

All primary and secondary schools in Singapore have been forced to close today, after hazy conditions - the worst this year - threatened to become hazardous.

PSI levels yesterday crossed into the very unhealthy range. At 10pm, the 24-hour PSI had soared to 223- 275. Beyond 300, it is hazardous.

This is the first time Singapore's schools are being closed due to the haze.

The decision was made "given the prediction that we cannot rule out the possibility of the haze condition getting into the hazardous range," said Education Minister Heng Swee Keat last night, at a multi-agency briefing also attended by Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say.

Some GCE O-level exams set for today have been postponed, while the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) hangs in the balance, as written papers are set to begin next week.

"There will be no national shutdown of workplaces," said Mr Lim, though he added that companies should take measures to help employees, such as enforcing more frequent breaks and making work less strenuous.

The Government is also adding to earlier measures to help people cope with the haze: vulnerable and needy Singaporeans will be able to collect masks from 108 community centres islandwide from 10am to 10pm from today.

Organisations are already taking steps to safeguard members of the public and workers.

The Singapore Sports Hub, for example, suspended strenuous outdoor activities and fast-food restaurants like McDonald's and KFC halted delivery services for now.

There might be some respite over the weekend, as winds are forecast to shift.

But the hazy conditions might last for another month or more, as this is an El Nino year which could see dry weather until November, warned Dr Balakrishnan.

"Our offer of assistance to (the Indonesian authorities) is still on the table, and we still stand ready to work with our ASEAN partners to resolve this problem," he reiterated.

Foreign and Law Minister K. Shanmugam affirmed this stance and described his observations in a Facebook post last night. He wrote: "As I walked around, the impact of the haze, on people, was obvious. I was coughing, eyes itching, the heat oppressive. Our senior citizens must be feeling much worse."

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who was visiting emergency workers in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan on Wednesday, had planned to inspect ground conditions and firefighting efforts in Sumatra yesterday but worsening conditions in Kalimantan prompted him to postpone the trip.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong reminded people to take care of their health.

In a Facebook post yesterday, he wrote: "Please drink plenty of water, and avoid going outdoors if you can. Look out for neighbours and friends, and stay safe."

Additional reporting by Francis Chan and Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja

Steps to look after those who turn up in schools
Lester Hio And Joanna Seow THE STRAITS TIMES AsiaOne 25 Sep 15;

Parents had to make alternative plans for their children last night as the haze caused primary and secondary schools around the island to be closed.

Video producer Melvyn Goh said his two daughters, who are both in primary school, will stay at home with their helper.

"Thankfully that's settled, because my wife is overseas, so if we didn't have a helper I might have had to cancel my video shoot to look after them," said the 39-year-old.

"My Primary 1 daughter is happy there's no school, but the Primary 4 one said she was 'bummed out' about it because there was a netball competition she was looking forward to."

The Ministry of Education (MOE) had prepared for such an eventuality and is keeping schools open for students who turn up, with supervisors on hand to look after them in libraries and other rooms. National examinations scheduled for today have also been postponed.

More than 100 students who were due to take the GCE O-level Music and Higher Music practical exams today will take them at 8am next Tuesday instead.

They were notified of the rescheduling by their schools yesterday while private candidates were informed by the exam board.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said at a media briefing last night that there has been a general upward trend in the hourly raw concentration of PM2.5 particles, which affects the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI).

There was a brief respite over last weekend and early this week as the winds were blowing from the south and south-east.

The haze returned in force on Wednesday due to a change in wind direction because of a tropical storm in the western Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines.

The storm acts as a "low-pressure zone", said Dr Balakrishnan. That causes wind to blow from the south or south-west, sending haze from a dense haze cloud sitting slightly to the south of Singapore into the nation.

Contingency plans for national examinations are in place should haze conditions remain unhealthy orworsen. All schools have enclosed spaces for candidates to take their exams, and schools will also be provided with air purifiers so that exams are not disrupted.

"We will certainly announce our plans if we need. This is a very fast-moving situation, but we are prepared," said Education Minister Heng Swee Keat. Should the air quality enter the hazardous level resulting in further school closures, exams will be rescheduled.

Some companies possibly responsible for the haze have been identified, Dr Balakrishnan added.

The Transboundary Haze Pollution Act punishes polluters who cause haze. They can be fined up to $100,000 per day, capped at a total of $2 million.

Dr Balakrishnan said: "The National Environment Agency has written to the Indonesian authorities, asking for a list of companies whom the Indonesian investigations have shown may be implicated in this. Pursuant to our Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, we will be issuing notices in the days to come."


Smoky smog brings Singapore daily life to a halt
Saheli Roy Choudhury, CNBC 24 Sep 15;

Singapore has closed its schools after the pollution levels caused by the smoky smog enveloping the city hit dangerously high levels.

On Thursday night local time the Ministry of Education said it would close primary and secondary schools on Friday, along with government-run kindergartens, after the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading, which measures how polluted the air is, hit 314 and the 24-hour figure rose to 223-275 at 10pm local time on Thursday. Anything over 300 indicates "hazardous" air quality and 201-300 is "very unhealthy", Singapore's National Environment Agency said on its website.

Not all schools have air conditioning fitted, preventing them from closing windows to shut out the smoky air.

On Friday the PSI hovered near the hazardous range again, hitting 255, with the 24-hour figure at 264-321.

The Singapore Flyer Ferris wheel, right, stands shrouded in smog in Singapore, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. The haze from Indonesian forest fires pushed Singapore's air quality closer to the 'hazardous' range, covering the city-state with a layer of smog as the government warned of a worsening condition over the public holiday.

The Singapore Flyer Ferris wheel, right, stands shrouded in smog in Singapore, on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. The haze from Indonesian forest fires pushed Singapore's air quality closer to the 'hazardous' range, covering the city-state with a layer of smog as the government warned of a worsening condition over the public holiday.

Slash-and-burn agriculture, and resulting forest fires, in Indonesia's Sumatra and Kalimantan islands are responsible for the so-called haze that hangs over Singapore. Indonesia and parts of Malaysia are also affected, with PSI readings in Kalimantan nearing 2,000, according to reports.

Although Singapore offices remained open on Friday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong took to Facebook to urge employers to "not compromise on the health and safety of their employees, especially those working outdoors."

Singapore's residents, meanwhile, were growing weary of the yellow smog clouding the city's skies; people with thick surgical masks covering half of their face are currently a common sight in the city-state.

"It's getting worse now," Jabbar Hanieff told CNBC on Friday. "It's affecting everybody, especially people like me. But to use the cup (mask), every time you have to take it out when you go in, it's creating a lot of problems. So I hope this thing will go off as soon as possible."

The effects of the haze are worst for those with breathing-related conditions. Toh Shu Hui said: "You can see it's affecting my daily life. I get respiratory problems, sinus. It's very common [and] it's affecting my family as well."

Some residents did see a lighter side to the problem. Local Twitter celebrity mrbrown, who started the hashtage #sghazesongs, was inundated with suggestions, from The Platters' Smoke Gets in Your Eyes to Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water and Billy Joel's We Didn't Start the Fire and No Air by Chris Brown and Jordin Sparks.

But outdoor pursuits have largely ground to a halt during the haze, which started earlier this month.

The Singapore Sports Hub said on its website that it would suspend all outdoor activities at its stadium and aquatic complex. Health advisories sent out by the Ministry of Health and the National Environment Agency urged residents to minimize time spent outside.

And fast food restaurants including KFC and McDonalds have suspended their delivery services to protect workers from the smog.

Indonesia is investigating about 100 companies for their alleged links to the forest fires and recently ordered four to suspend their operations, Reuters reported. Officials hope to extinguish the majority of the fires by mid-October.

Reports suggest, however, that the El Nino phenomenon, which results in very dry weather, means the haze could continue until the monsoon season begins in November.

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Allow bigger dogs under HDB scheme, animal groups urge

Jasmine OsadaTHE STRAITS TIMES AsiaOne 25 Sep 15;

A scheme allowing Housing Board flat owners to keep bigger dogs at home - as long as they are adopted from an approved shelter - has been hailed a success.

Although there are restrictions on the size of breeds that can be kept in HDB flats, 227 larger dogs have been adopted under the Project Adore (Adoption and Rehoming of Dogs) scheme since it was launched in June 2011 - and no complaint has been made to date.

Now, animal welfare groups are urging the authorities to allow bigger pooches under the scheme.

Managed by the Ministry of National Development (MND), Agri- Food and Veterinary Authority and the HDB, Project Adore was piloted in 2011 and became a permanent scheme last year.

Currently, the HDB allows only one dog of an approved small breed to be kept in HDB flats.

But under Project Adore, residents can adopt a mixed breed dog up to 50cm tall and weighing up to 15kg from a participating shelter. They cannot be bought from shops or breeders.

The scheme is run by three animal welfare groups - Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD), Save our Street Dogs (SoSD) and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

Mr Ricky Yeo, president and founder of ASD, said the success of Project Adore so far has demonstrated that larger dogs can be accepted in HDB communities.

But the current size limits mean that only 30 to 40 per cent of the dogs at ASD's shelter qualify for the scheme. Mr Yeo hopes this can be increased to include dogs up to 60cm tall and weighing up to 20kg, such as a typical golden retriever.

"This would open up a new avenue for 70 per cent of the dogs under our care, so they may be able to find permanent homes," he added.

Only 11 per cent of SoSD dogs qualify for Project Adore. Most of those at its shelter are 60 to 65 cm tall and weigh 20 to 25kg.

SoSD president Siew Tuck Wah said: "While I am not optimistic that Project Adore will be able to include these large dogs, any increase in the size limit will help as more dogs can be included in the scheme."

SPCA executive director Corinne Fong shares a similar sentiment: "Three-quarters of our shelter dogs are larger set dogs, but if they have proven to be trainable and of a good temperament, why should they be denied a home in an HDB flat?"

Animal welfare groups note that increasing the size limits does not automatically make every dog that meets the height and weight criteria eligible for Project Adore.

Potential candidates must still be assessed for temperament and whether they can be trained.

Would-be adopters too must go through a stringent process to assess their ability and willingness to ensure the dog adapts to an HDB flat environment. Dog and owner must attend compulsory obedience lessons by an accredited trainer.

Foreign and Law Minister K. Shanmugam, an animal lover, said that with programmes like Project Adore, Singapore has made more progress on animal welfare than it has "in a long while". He said negotiations are ongoing for larger dogs to be added to the programme.

"I am personally supporting this, but I understand that some dog owners, cat owners are not responsible. They leave the waste around and cause a nuisance for everyone else. So we also need to deal with bad behaviour. I think this has to go at the speed where people are able to take it," he added.

Animal welfare groups have also cautioned against a relaxing of dog ownership rules across the board.

"Even if the rules are changed so that larger dogs are allowed in HDB flats, adoption shelters should be given priority over sellers and breeders," said Ms Fong.

"Every shelter here is fighting for the same potential pet owners as the breeders. We are the ones receiving all the unwanted pets that people are buying. A relaxation of rules across the board could mean that lots of people end up buying large dogs that may eventually be surrendered to us."

Madam Chen Chiu Hsia, a mother of three, had originally planned to adopt a small dog like a japanese spitz until her daughter, Emma Er, 11, made her think twice.

"One night, as I was browsing through Facebook and SPCA's website, Emma came up to me and said, 'Mummy, it doesn't have to be a japanese spitz,'" said Madam Chen, 35, who works in a primary school.

"I agreed with her - if we were going to adopt a dog, we should accept it regardless of its breed. That was how we adopted our medium-sized mixed breed dog, Lily Rose, through Project Adore."

Such stories are why the MND regards the scheme as a success.

But for now, dogs larger than Lily Rose may have to wait a little longer to get a home in an HDB flat.

The MND told The Straits Times it is reviewing Project Adore's adoption conditions with various stakeholders, including town councils and grassroots organisations.

"Any policy adjustments will have to be done sensitively so that we can continue to be an inclusive society, and ensure the long-term success of the programme," an MND spokesman said.

But the MND said it plans to include more animal welfare groups.

This is welcome news for Madam Chen, who said in the five months since she adopted Lily Rose, her neighbours have grown to love her larger-than-average pooch.

She said: "I would encourage others to adopt through this scheme. These dogs deserve a second chance in life."

- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/allow-bigger-dogs-under-hdb-scheme-animal-groups-urge#sthash.hZGGqTTx.dpuf

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