Seas may rise 2.3 meters per degree of global warming: report

Erik Kirschbaum Reuters 15 Jul 13

(Reuters) - Sea levels could rise by 2.3 meters for each degree Celsius that global temperatures increase and they will remain high for centuries to come, according to a new study by the leading climate research institute, released on Monday.

Anders Levermann said his study for the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research was the first to examine evidence from climate history and combine it with computer simulations of contributing factors to long-term sea-level increases: thermal expansion of oceans, the melting of mountain glaciers and the melting of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets.

Scientists say global warming is responsible for the melting ice. A U.N. panel of scientists, the IPCC, says heat-trapping gases from burning fossil fuels are nudging up temperatures. A small number of scientists dismiss human-influenced global warming, arguing natural climate fluctuations are responsible.

"We're confident that our estimate is robust because of the combination of physics and data that we used," Levermann told Reuters. "We think we've set a benchmark for how much sea levels will rise along with temperature increases."

Sea levels rose by 17 cm last century and the rate has accelerated to more than 3 mm a year, according to the IPCC. A third of the current rise is from Antarctica and Greenland.

Almost 200 governments have agreed to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times and plan to agree, by the end of 2015, a deal to curb emissions.

Global average surface temperatures have risen by 0.8C (1.4F) since the Industrial Revolution and the IPCC has said temperatures are likely to be 0.4 to 1.0 degrees Celsius warmer from 2016-35 than in the two decades to 2005.

"In the past there was some uncertainty and people haven't known by how much," Levermann said. "We're saying now, taking everything we know, that we've got a robust estimate of 2.3 meters (7 feet, 6.6 inches) of rising sea per degree (Celsius) of warming."

SCEPTICS

Some scientific studies have projected sea level rise of up to 2 meters by 2100, a figure that would swamp large tracts of land from Bangladesh to Florida.

David Vaughan, head of the Ice2sea project to narrow down uncertainties about how melting ice will swell the oceans, has said sea levels would rise by between 16.5 and 69 cm under a scenario of moderate global warming this century.

Vaughan told Reuters the biggest impact rising seas will have is that storms will be more destructive in the near future.

"It's not about chasing people up the beach or the changing shape of coastlines," he said. "The big issue is how the storms will damage our coasts and how often they occur. That'll increase even with small levels of sea rise in coming decades."

Climate skeptics, however, say the evidence is unconvincing. Measurements of changing temperatures are unreliable, contradictory and unsupported by solid historic data, they say.

They question the accuracy of computer climate forecasts and point to historic, cyclical changes in the world's temperature as evidence that global temperature changes are natural. Others say the evidence shows temperatures have stopped rising and that the sun plays a bigger role than human activities.

"Continuous sea-level rise is something we cannot avoid unless global temperatures go down again," Levermann said. "Our results indicate that major adaptation at our coastlines will be necessary. It's likely that some currently populated regions can't be protected in the long run."

(Reporting by Erik Kirschbaum; editing by Patrick Graham)

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'Social, environmental risks' to Asia's growth

Fiona Chan Straits Times 16 Jul 13;

ASIA'S growth prospects are being threatened by rising income inequality and environmental degradation, a regional poverty-fighting organisation has warned.

A new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report noted that the region's economic policies have brought prosperity to many parts of Asia but neglected to tackle social and environmental problems.

"The strong priority on growth meant that the non-economic dimensions of development... have been generally underemphasised," said Mr Peter Petri, Carl Shapiro Professor of International Finance at Brandeis University in the United States, and Mr Vinod Thomas, the ADB's director-general of independent evaluation, who co-wrote the report.

"Asian economies typically kept social expenditures low and focused investments on economic infrastructure," they added.

This has led to income gaps widening over the last two decades, according to the report. Developing Asia's Gini coefficient, a measure of inequality, rose about 1.4 per cent a year between the mid-1990s and the late 2000s.

"The income distribution is worsening, and possibly undermining demand, in countries that are home to 80 per cent of the region's population," the authors said. "The trends suggest that inequality in Asia is still rising and neither national nor international trends... promise early improvements."

Environmental conditions in Asia are also deteriorating, the report noted. Developing Asia now accounts for 35 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions - twice its share of global economic output - and this is projected to rise to 44 per cent by 2030.

Much of this is due to China and India, the largest and third-largest emitters of carbon dioxide in the world respectively, the report said.

If left unchecked, the growing emissions could raise global temperatures by 5 deg C by the end of the 21st century, according to the World Bank.

This would likely "depress crop yields, decrease water availability, and raise risks of intense weather events", added the ADB.

Its warnings join those of the International Monetary Fund, which in April cautioned that unequal income growth could cause Asia's economies to stagnate.

The ADB is urging the region's policymakers to broaden its successful "evidence-based policy- making" - a pragmatic trial-and- error approach - to one that adds the goals of social inclusion and environmental sustainability to economic progress.

"Evidence is now telling us that future growth will likely depend on halting today's negative social and environmental trends," said the report.

If policymakers fail to take heed, not only will economic growth be hurt, but so will "social cohesion and the legitimacy of governments", it concluded.

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Best of our wild blogs: 15 Jul 13

Latest Green Jobs in Singapore [8 - 14 Jul 2013]
from Green Business Times

27 Jul: Your chance to volunteer at Tampines Eco Park
from The Green Volunteers

Battlefield Tour July 28 Sunday
from a.t.Bukit Brown. Heritage. Habitat. History. and Green Activist Bhavani Prakash’s Plea

31 Jul Green Drinks: Mosquitoes and Dengue
from Green Drinks Singapore

Festival of Biodiversity 2013
from Butterflies of Singapore

Festival of Biodiversity 2013
from my gap year

A Naturalist Guide to The Birds of Singapore (Book launch)
from Rojak Librarian

Night Walk At Venus Drive (12 Jun 2013)
from Beetles@SG BLOG and Morning Walk At Durian Loop (13 Jul 2013)

Butterflies Galore! : Fluffy Tit
from Butterflies of Singapore

Bigfin Reef Squid
from Monday Morgue

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NUS, NTU complete studies on underground campus space

Feng Zengkun Straits Times 15 Jul 13;

Singapore's two largest universities have completed exploratory studies to see if they can tap their campuses' underground space for classrooms, libraries, sports halls and other facilities.

The National University of Singapore's two-month study was completed late last year while a research group at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) will finalise its report by next month.

NUS' vice-president of campus infrastructure Yong Kwet Yew said delving underground would expand use of the Kent Ridge campus' land while conserving existing green and open spaces on the surface.

"In the exploratory study, some possible uses identified included sports facilities, classrooms, libraries, auditoriums, and even research laboratories, data centres and parking structures," he told The Sunday Times.

However further studies are needed, such as how to make the underground spaces more comfortable for people, for example through the use of natural lighting.

He added that the university is also exploring research areas related to the use and development of underground space, but did not elaborate further.

Meanwhile at NTU, students could eventually swim in a subterranean pool or borrow books from an underground library.

Its Nanyang Centre for Underground Space (NCUS) led a year-long study with an international team of researchers to outline how the university can expand underground.

The study was sponsored by NTU's Sustainable Earth Office and the researchers said it could complement the university's 15-year masterplan to develop the campus, which was unveiled in 2011.

Among other things, the NCUS report - which comes out next month - will provide preliminary designs for a four-storey underground learning complex and a three-level sports hall below the Jurong campus' surface.

The NCUS' interim director Zhao Zhiye said: "NTU may not build these underground facilities in the near term, but this concept study will be a good start for planning purposes."

For example, if the university wants to expand below the surface, it will need to set aside space above-ground for access shafts.

The report is based on available data about the NTU grounds' geology and topography, and sets out concept plans for caverns, tunnels and basements and how these could be linked to the surface.

The underground learning centre, for example, consists of 220,000 sq m spread over four levels, including space for libraries, function rooms, and a main concourse.

The three-storey sports hall would be located under the existing sports centre on campus, and feature a swimming pool and courts for indoor games such as badminton and basketball.

The researchers estimated the amount of rock that would need to be excavated for these two facilities, but not their price tags as these could change depending on the subsurface geology.

The report's principal investigator Zhao Jian, a rock mechanics and tunnelling professor at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland, added that the report will include information from previous studies on underground facilities' safety and sustainability.

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Routine fogging harmful to health

Straits Times 15 Jul 13;

IN MY letter ("Ban routine fogging, focus on destroying mosquito breeding sites"; June 1), I wrote about the need to ban routine thermal fogging as it is ineffective, creates pesticide resistance in the mosquitoes, destroys the natural predators of the mosquitoes and pollutes the environment.
Put your hair in our hands. Watch it unbelievably restored.

I am glad that the National Environment Agency has noted that "some studies do not support outdoor fogging" ("NEA outlines dengue control measures"; July 5).

Routine fogging, besides being ineffective, is also harmful to our health and hazardous to vulnerable and at-risk groups.

Thermal fogging uses diesel as a carrier for the insecticide. This makes the constituents of the fog fat-soluble and, when absorbed into the body (by contact or inhalation), will accumulate and remain in the fatty tissues of the body - a process known as bio-accumulation.

With droplet sizes of 0.3 to 50 microns, and with most particles at less than 15 microns, the smallest droplets can easily be absorbed into the body through inhalation.

When this happens, it is not easily removed or broken down by the body's protective processes. The outcome is an accumulation of the pesticide and diesel, which is toxic and potentially carcinogenic in the long term.

Long-term diesel exposure is also known to damage the kidneys and affect blood-clotting. Repeated exposure will have a cumulative effect on the body.

Unfortunately, very little is known of the long-term dangers of pesticide and diesel exposure.

If we regulate outdoor smoking because of second-hand smoke and ban the burning of garden refuse because of the air pollution it generates, why do we allow routine fogging - the fog is far more toxic and hazardous than ordinary smoke or haze - to be carried out indiscriminately when it is of little help?

The pest-control companies need to redevelop their processes and services to provide alternatives that are effective and not hazardous to the population, instead of offering palliative services that are not helpful but harmful.

The NEA can play a critical role in this issue.

William Tok Gek Sun

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Malaysia: Elephant sanctuary to open soon

Olivia Miwil New Straits Times 15 Jul 13;

PHASE ONE: Sabah centre will treat animals and conduct awareness activities

KOTA KINABALU: THE first phase of the elephant sanctuary in Kinabatangan here will be opened in September, lifting hopes for the survival of the species in Sabah.

The opening phase of the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary was recently completed with a handling paddock, staff quarters and a store built at a cost of RM1.8 million.

Initiated by the Sabah Wildlife Department and non-governmental organisation Borneo Conservation Trust (BCT), the centre will serve as a rescue and treatment centre for injured or displaced elephants, as well as for conducting awareness programmes and activities.

This will be followed by the second phase, which will cost RM5.2 million, to develop a 25ha plot in the sanctuary. A forested area has also been identified for rehabilitated elephants to be released into.

Both were part of the Elephant Conservation Action Plan that will see a bigger area turned into a full-fledged sanctuary measuring more than 1,200ha, which will cost up to RM30 million to establish.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Datuk Dr Laurentius Ambu said the first two phases of the programme could cater to between 12 and 16 elephants.

"Injured elephants will be treated at this centre before being released into forests and wildlife reserves. Other wildlife will be accepted and treated at this sanctuary, such as sun bears, proboscis monkeys, orangutan, clouded leopards and banteng."

BCT conservation and research head Raymond Alfred said the first phase of the project was financially aided by BCT Japan, Asahiyama Zoo, Saraya, Hunting World, Tokio Marine, NTT Data Kirin, Taiseh and Yusen Logistics. Phase two is aided by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council.

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Vietnam lists itself among the countries with no more rhinos

VietNamNet Bridge 15 Jul 13;

The culprit who killed the Java rhino at the Cat Tien National Park three years ago remains unknown. No state official has been disciplined for the rhino death. This shows the serious loophole in the management work of the Vietnamese agencies in the protection the wildlife.

The death of the Java rhino in April 2010 has officially put Vietnam onto the list of the countries where there is no more living rhino.

As soon as the death of the rhino was discovered, WWF urgently asked to conduct an investigation in a large scale. Tran Van Thanh, Director of the national park then committed to closely cooperate with the competent agencies to take the investigation and clarify the death. The Cat Tien National Park then asked competent agencies to apply necessary measures to track down the rhino horn taken away by someone.

Meanwhile, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Pham Khoi Nguyen said at a press conference on May 17, 2010, nearly one month after the rhino’s death, that he just heard the news on that day.

An official of the Environment General Directorate then said he read the information about the rhino death in April 2010, but the Cat Tien National Park was put under the management of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, not the Ministry of Natural Resources the Environment.

At the time when the press conference was held, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment carried out a lot of big activities to respond to the International Year of the Biodiversity. However, it still denied the responsibility for the rhino death.

Analysts have commented that the battle of preventing the trafficking of rhino horns from South Africa to Vietnam has been very tough, because Vietnam still lacks a “commander” who has the big power and responsibility enough to win the battle.

The rhino horn trafficking from South Africa to Vietnam has become more tragic. The rhinos in South Africa have been in a so big danger that the conservatives have to inject poison in rhinos’ horns. The poison would make people, who eat rhino horn powder, vomit and cause fits of convulsion. The horns have also been covered with a substance which allows competent agencies easily discover them in the travelers’ luggage at the airports.

However, Vietnamese traffickers still keep bringing rhino horns to Vietnam, though they know about the poisoning.

A lot of traffickers and the “money-bags” have been planning to import rhinos in a whole from South Africa to Vietnam, where they would legalize their existence by keeping them at farms.

According to TRAFFIC, in three years from 2007 to 2010, 657 rhino horns were legally imported to Vietnam. Meanwhile, CITES Vietnam reported 170 horns only. This means that the State of Vietnam failed to collect $2 million worth of tax because of the loss of the 74 percent of the rhino horn imports from South Africa during that time.

At a workshop in August 2012, Dr Ong Vinh An from the Vinh City University, said the trafficking can bring huge profits, about $4.2 billion a year.

At least two big workshops on preventing the wildlife trafficking have been organized by the Central Committee for Propaganda and Training, TRAFFIC and WWF since 2009.

Thanh Tra

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Best of our wild blogs: 13 Jul 13

Latest happenings at the Festival of Biodiversity 13-14 Jul (Sat and Sun) VivoCity from wild shores of singapore and Lazy Lizard's Tales

Water testing strips: a quick and easy way to monitor water quality
from Water Quality in Singapore

Community of Urban Red Junglefowl
from Bird Ecology Study Group

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Bitten by snake? Check this phone app for guidance

Pearl Lee Straits Times 13 Jul 13;

THEY are creatures that inspire fear and fascination in equal measure.

But most of all, snakes are misunderstood.

Now, a new mobile application has been developed to help educate people in Singapore about the different varieties found on their doorstep.

For example, it tells users what to do if they have been bitten by a snake or seen one in their garden - with staying calm the most important thing.

Bite victims should also remain in a sitting position, with the bitten limb below the heart.

The app - to be launched by Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) - also features photographs to help the public identify local snakes, including venomous ones.

But there is no need to be too worried as most of Singapore's species do not have poison in their bite.

The Republic has "an abundance of wildlife" - including about 70 types of snakes - said conservation and research director Sonja Luz of WRS, which manages attractions such as Jurong Bird Park.

"Being a rescued wildlife centre, we receive many snake donations throughout the year, many of which arrive in a state that suggests that they have been unnecessarily hurt by people who are scared of them," she said.

"We want people to understand snakes and their value in the ecosystem, and to know that they are not inherently dangerous when treated with respect."

The app will be launched today at the Festival of Biodiversity. The two-day event at VivoCity aims to celebrate Singapore's natural heritage and promote awareness of biodiversity in the city state.

It will end tomorrow.

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Animal crusaders

Animal rescue work is demanding but welfare groups here are dedicated to helping those in need
Cheryl Faith Wee Straits Times 13 Jul 13;

In the last three years, Ms Wendy Low has rescued at least 30 stray and abandoned dogs with injuries ranging from maggot-infested open wounds to broken limbs.

Such animals are often found near industrial or forested areas, where strays usually live.

Ms Low, who is in her mid-40s and runs her own business, is among a group of individuals here that work independently or with animal welfare groups to help animals in distress.

She is a rescue-work volunteer with Action For Singapore Dogs and is tipped off about injured dogs by members of the public.

She would line the back seat of her car with newspapers and drive the dogs to the veterinarian. Sometimes, blood, maggots and ticks are left behind, but she is unfazed.

"I just scoop up everything with the newspaper and throw it away. I wipe everything down and then spray disinfectant."

It is all in a day's work for the animal lover, who handles one to five dog rescues every month, ranging from those hurt in traffic accidents to sick strays.

Action For Singapore Dogs is among at least seven animal welfare organisations here that often receives calls and e-mail messages from people who come across animals in distress.

These groups, which include the Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals (SPCA) and Hope Dog Rescue, will assess the situation and decide if they will take action.

SPCA, which operates a 24-hour emergency hotline for animal rescue, received 2,955 calls last year and helped 1,828 animals. These ranged from dogs that had fallen into drains to cats perched precariously on ledges of high-rise buildings.

As for the rest of the cases, Ms Corinne Fong, 50, SPCA's executive director, says: "There have been times when we weren't able to bring in the animals because they were no longer at the location by the time our officer arrived, as the callers were not able to help confine them.

"We are also not able to send rescue officers down for all the calls as they may be in the middle of another rescue. So when people call, we must ascertain the severity of the problem."

The animals have to meet one of three conditions - injured, sick or distressed - before SPCA sends someone down, she adds. The SPCA has full-time officers to handle animal rescue work, which volunteers say can be challenging.

Mr Ricky Yeo, 45, president of Action For Singapore Dogs, says: "Volunteers are not raring to take up rescue work. There is the mental stress of it. Some people who call or e-mail can be very demanding and have all kinds of expectations - they do not want to do anything but expect you to."

At Action For Singapore Dogs, three people handle rescue work - Mr Yeo, another staff member and Ms Low, who has been a volunteer since 2005 but started helping with rescue work only three years ago. They receive at least one call or e-mail message daily asking for dogs to be rescued, but they can manage only one to five cases every month.

The non-profit organisation, which was set up in 2000, has 36 regular volunteers who help take care of close to 100 dogs at its adoption and rescue centre.

Some animal welfare groups take a different approach. The Cat Welfare Society has a network of about 1,000 volunteers in various neighbourhoods who keep a lookout for cats in their areas, from feeding them to helping those that are injured.

The society receives about 50 e-mail messages daily about cats that need help. It then puts these people in touch with volunteers from the various neighbourhoods.

Its president, Ms Veron Lau, 42, says: "We do not encourage people to think they can call a number and their problems will be solved. Animal welfare cannot rely on just a few people, there needs to be a community effort."

One of the volunteers in the Cat Welfare Society's network is Madam Law Mui Eng, 56, a stall owner in a wet market. She lives in Clementi West and has been taking care of the stray cats in her neighbourhood since 1995. She feeds them daily and checks that they are not sick or hurt.

Every week, she takes at least three calls - sometimes at midnight - from strangers, friends or neighbours who have spotted cats in her neighbourhood that need help.

She usually makes a trip down to check on the situation. "These animals need someone to look out for them. They have a hard life."

She also helps to pay for the vet bills of some of these cats, which can cost a three- or four-figure sum. If she cannot afford the expenses, she seeks help from other volunteers in her neighbourhood.

Besides monetary costs, animal rescue work is also time-consuming.

Ms Mumtaz Begam Aziz, 36, a warehouse coordinator, has cared for stray dogs on her own at a cemetery for the last four years.

Every Saturday, she drops by to make sure the animals are in good health. She even feeds the dogs health supplements.

These supplements are sponsored by donors she finds through Facebook. Ms Mumtaz, who is single, says: "I love animals a lot. I name some of the strays and become quite attached to them."

She tells those who work in the area to call her if anything happens to the dogs, and receives at least one such call every week. Once, a dog was spotted walking around with just three legs.

Rescue work can also take an emotional toll on animal lovers.

Ms Lisa Goh, 42, who runs her own creative business, has been doing rescue work with welfare organisation Hope Dog Rescue since 2010.

Every day, the group receives about 20 e-mail messages and calls informing them of strays as well as injured, abandoned or abused dogs.

She recounts one unforgettable case last year - a stray dog was found with such bad open wounds that its entire body was covered with maggots. It was hiding under a truck and she had to push the dog out with her bare hands and legs. She and other volunteers then rushed it to the veterinarian but it had to be put to sleep in the end.

"I can tolerate the maggots and the wounds. The main thing I want to do is to help them."

Whom to call for help
Straits Times 13 Jul 13;

SPCA 24-HOUR EMERGENCY HOTLINE

What: The Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals helps sick, injured or distressed animals, including cats, dogs and birds. Response time ranges from one to three hours. Callers may be asked to stay with the animal until then or, in some cases, transport the animal to the vet themselves.

Info: Call 6287-5355 (extension 9) with the following details: the animal's condition, its location, your name andcontact number. Go to www.spca.org.sg for more details.

ACRES WILDLIFE 24-HOUR RESCUE HOTLINE

What: Deals with wildlife, such as birds, squirrels, pangolins, monitor lizards and snakes, that are injured or outside their natural habitat. The group does not handle pets, stray dogs and cats. Response time varies between one and three hours. For non-urgent cases, e-mail Acres pictures of the animal, its location, your name and contact number.

Info: Call 9783-7782, e-mail info@acres.org.sg or go to www.acres.org.sg

ACTION FOR SINGAPORE DOGS

What: Helps dogs with injuries or illnesses. E-mail pictures of the dog, its location,your name and contact number. Depending on the case, response time ranges from within a few minutes to a day. The group deals with severely sick and injured dogs.

Info: E-mail info@asdsingapore.com or go to asdsingapore.com

CAT WELFARE SOCIETY

What: Offers guidance on how to help a sick or injured cat. The society has a network of about 1,000 volunteers spread across neighbourhoods here who keep a lookout for cats in different areas. Ask the society to put you in touch with the respective volunteers who live closest to you. You will get a response to your e-mail within two days.

Info: E-mail info@catwelfare.org or go to www.catwelfare.org

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Slower pace of life comes with trade-off, says Shanmugam

Elgin Toh And Robin Chan Straits Times 13 Jul 13;

IF SINGAPOREANS want a slower pace of life, they must also accept a trade-off in living standards, Law and Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam said at a forum at the National University of Singapore (NUS) last night.

He painted a stark picture of the scale of the challenges facing the country, as pressures from an ageing society set in and the competition on its doorstep heats up.

There is also a fiscal challenge as public spending already outstrips revenue from taxes in this year's Budget, a situation that is likely to exacerbate in the coming decades. The only reason there is no actual deficit is the income stream from the reserves built up over many years.

Weighty realities like these "keep ministers up at night", he said, as they seek to maintain the focus on the long-term development of the country.

"Many people... assume that all other things will remain the same - I will have this lifestyle, I will have this job, I will have this quality of life, and I can afford to slow down," he said.

"But the real answer is: your lifestyle and quality of life and the state of society will be different. As long as we debate that and agree that that is an outcome that we are prepared to accept, yes, the answer is, we can afford to slow down."

Elaborating on Singapore's internal challenges, he cited population figures: Each retired person will be supported by just 2.1 working adults by 2030, down from the current 5.9, and 13.5 in 1970.

Furthermore, as the proportion of senior citizens grows, they will hold more votes and could potentially push politicians to spend more to benefit their age group - as is the case in Japan.

Such trends will affect the amount of taxes today's young will have to pay in future.

Turning his attention to Singapore's place in the world, the minister raised the possibility that making a living would become much harder for the country.

As Asian countries continue to rise economically, Singapore's status as an air, sea and financial hub, for instance, would come under threat if these functions were replicated in other cities in the region, he said.

He gave the example of how China was, for security reasons, developing a trade route that went through Myanmar, bypassing the narrow Strait of Malacca where its ships could be stopped by "a few submarines".

"And when China says it's going to do it, it will be done," he said, adding that this was a point of great concern for Singapore, since 150,000 jobs here depended on its sea hub status.

But beyond these threats and challenges to Singapore's prosperity, there were opportunities that could be seized, he contended.

He painted a vision of Singapore as the New York of Asean, a region with a combined economy larger than India's, he noted.

Already, through free trade negotiations, Asean countries have done away with three-quarters of tariffs on intra-Asean trade.

If Singapore maintained the rule of law, non-corruptibility and safety, it could become a services centre in the region, and reap enormous benefits, Mr Shanmugam said.

Asked about political competition, he said both one-party and multi-party systems can fail.

But Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore and China, he noted, succeeded post-World War II because they had good leadership and political stability.

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Indonesian govt to charge Malaysian company for haze fires

The Star 12 Jul 13;

JAKARTA: A Malaysian firm, believed to be responsible for forest fires in Sumatra, is set to face charges a day after the Riau administration lifted the haze disaster emergency status, the Indonesian National Police said, according to The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Police spokesperson Insp Gen Ronny F. Sompie said that the Malaysian company allegedly carried out irresponsible burning practices in its concession area in Riau.

“The company is responsible for the fire and has been declared a suspect, but we have not determined the company’s employees who were responsible for the burning,” he said at the National Police headquarters in Jakarta.

Riau Police spokesman Adj Sr Comr Hermansyah said that they had questioned 16 witnesses in the case, from field workers to management-level employees.

“None have been named as the perpetrators of the fire in the company’s concession area.

"We do not want to rush the naming of the responsible parties,” he told The Jakarta Post in Pekanbaru on Thursday.

Hermansyah declined to mention the names and the positions of the witnesses.

If found guilty, those involved in the irresponsible practices could be charged under the 2002 Environment Law, the 1999 Forestry Law and the Criminal Code with a maximum penalty of 10-years imprisonment and 10bil Rupiah (RM3.2mil) in fines.

Previously, Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya suggested 14 companies were the source of forest fires in Riau, eight of those Malaysian-owned.
In June, the slash-and-burn fires created a severe haze that shrouded Singapore and Malaysia, prompting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to issue an apology to neighbouring countries. - ANN/The Jakarta Post

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