Malaysia, Australia withdraw firefighting assets from Indonesia

Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency says the Bombardier amphibious aircraft from Malaysia and the Hercules aircraft from Australia flew back on Monday.

By Saifulbahri Ismail Channel NewsAsia 20 Oct 15;

JAKARTA: Malaysia and Australia have withdrawn their assets from Indonesia after completing five days of fire fighting in South Sumatra.

Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) on Tuesday (Oct 20) said the Bombardier amphibious aircraft from Malaysia and the Hercules aircraft from Australia flew back on Monday. However, BNPB did not mention if the Malaysian aircraft were going back for servicing as claimed in some reports.

Currently, there are still 11 Indonesian aircraft and one Chinook helicopter from Singapore available to continue water bombing efforts. These assets will be reinforced with two units of the Russian Beriev BE-200 amphibious aircraft expected to arrive in Palembang on Wednesday.

The aircraft, which can carry 12,000 litres of water, will be accompanied by 20 Russian crew. Indonesia has used the Beriev BE-200 for firefighting missions in 2007.

- CNA/yt


Malaysia to continue sending aircraft to ‘waterbomb’ Sumatera fires
New Straits Times 20 Oct 15;

SUBANG: Malaysia will continue deploying its assets to Indonesia to tackle the haze resulting from fires in Sumatera.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said the CL415 Bombardier aircraft and AS365N3 Dauphin helicopter deployed to Sumatera were brought back to Malaysia today to undergo maintenance.

"The assets need to be brought back temporarily for maintenance. It will take about 100 hours before we can deploy our assets back to Indonesia.
"We will deploy the aircraft and helicopter to Indonesia on either Friday or next Monday," he told a press conference after the helicopter and aircraft homecoming ceremony at the Maritime Air Station, here today.

A total of 25 Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) personnel were involved in the mission and they arrived at about 1.15pm today.
Shahidan said on average, Bombardier CL415 aircraft pilots carried out 26 water bombing runs, dumping a total of 165,000 litres of water onto the blaze daily.

On Oct 11, the MMEA began its firefighting operation in the South Sumatera region to combat raging forest fires in Indonesia which had blanketed the republic and parts of Southeast Asia, including Malaysia in choking haze.

Reports by Zahratulhayat Mat Arif, Yip Zhi Min and Ko Ja Yee


Indonesia brings in Russian aircraft to tackle haze
Edna Tarigan, thejakartapost.com 20 Oct 15;

Malaysia and Australia's aid to Indonesia in lending water bombing aircraft ended on Monday. So, Indonesia turned to Russia for more help to tackle the haze crisis.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said on Tuesday that Bombardier aircraft from Malaysia and Hercules aircraft from Australia had returned to their respective countries.

"They have ended their five-day mission. There is only Chinook Mustang helicopter conducting water bombing in South Sumatra,” Sutopo said in a statement sent to thejakartapost.com on Tuesday.

He said there are currently 11 helicopters and airplanes, ten from Indonesia and one from Singapore for water bombing and cloud seeding.

"To increase the water bombing efforts, the government brought in two units of amphibi aircraft Beriev Be-200 along with 20 crew from Russia. They will land on Wednesday morning in Palembang," he said, adding that Russian Embassy officials have arrived in Palembang.

Sutopo explained that the the Be-200 plane is a legendary amphibious water bombing aircraft with a 12,000 liter capacity. Its ability includes taking water from rivers, lakes and the sea.

"Indonesia used this type of aircraft in the 2007 forest and land fires," he said.

As part of its strategy, the government moved two Air Tractor planes to Pangkal Pinang, Bangka Belitung province, to support the operation as Palembang airport is covered with thick haze with less visibility that disrupts the flights.

Sutopo added that water tanks with a capacity of 5,000 liters of water, chemical materials and other equipment have been prepared in the Pangkal Pinang base for fire extinguishing operations.

Seperately, Sugarin Hidayat, chief of Pekanbaru Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said there were 623 hot spots detected in Sumatra on Tuesday. The Terra Aqua satellites recorded 19 hot spots in Bengkulul, 67 in Jambi, 23 in Lampung, 456 in South Sumatra, 6 in West Sumatra, 28 in Bangka Belitung and 24 in Riau.

“The weather in Riau is cloudy and covered by haze. The potential for rain is very low, “ he said. (rin)


More water-bombers needed to put out hotspots
Antara 20 Oct 15;

Palembang, S Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said more water-bombing aircraft are needed to put out fire hotspots in South Sumatra province.

The need for additional water-bombing aircraft is based on the land and forest area, including peatland, burnt in the province, he said after inspecting land fires in Ogan Ilir, South Sumatra, on Tuesday.

To extinguish land and forest fires more effectively, the forest firefighting task force needs more water-bombing aircraft, he said.

He said peatland fires in South Sumatra have not been put out as yet.

The prolonged drought, coupled with strong winds and high drought rate, have made the spread of land fires uncontrollable, he said.

The minister said he will evaluate the need for water-bombing planes to achieve maximum results in putting out the hotspots.

He said he will report the evaluation to President Joko Widodo for consideration.

Several foreign aircraft are assisting the task force in fighting land and forest fires but these efforts were not enough to end the land and forest fires.

Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Wiliem Rampangile said earlier in the day that low visibility and limited water sources have impeded the operation of foreign airplanes to assist in land and forest fire fighting efforts in South Sumatra.

During their six days of operation, some of the foreign airplanes found it difficult to conduct water-bombing operations as visibility dropped to only 700 meters in several areas, he said.

In the land and forest fire-affected areas of Cengal and Pedamaran in Ogan Komering Ilir district, only a Malaysian plane with a capacity of carrying five thousand liters of water proved effective in reaching the scene without having to return to the base for refilling, he said.

In the meantime, a Hercules N405 LC plane from Australia which has a capacity of carrying 15 thousand liters of water, had difficulty in accessing the target site due to low visibility, he said.

He said low visibility and limited water sources are among the obstacles being faced by fire fighters in extinguishing land and forest fires in South Sumatra, currently blanketed by a thick smoke.(*)


Low visibility impedes water-bombing operations in S Sumatra
Antara 20 Oct 15;

Palembang, S Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Low visibility and limited water sources have impeded the operation of foreign airplanes that are here to assist in putting out land and forest fires in South Sumatra province.

During their six days of operation, some of the foreign airplanes found it difficult to conduct water-bombing as visibility dropped to only 700 meters in several areas, head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Wiliem Rampangile, said here on Tuesday.

In the land and forest fire-affected areas of Cengal and Pedamaran in Ogan Komering Ilir district, only a Malaysian plane with a capacity of carrying 5 thousand liters of water proved effective in accessing the target site without having to return to the base for refilling, he said.

In the meantime, a Hercules N405 LC plane from Australia which has a capacity of carrying 15 thousand liters of water had difficulties reaching the scene due to low visibility, he said.

He said low visibility and limited water sources are among the obstacles that firefighters are facing in extinguishing land and forest fires in South Sumatra which is currently blanketed by a thick smoke.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said during his working visit to the province on Tuesday that the government will extend the period in which foreign planes can assist to put out land and forest fires.

He said two Russian planes with a capacity to carry 12 tons of water each are expected to arrive in South Sumatra on Tuesday night.

An Australian aircraft has reportedly concluded its designated period to assist in putting out land and forest fires in South Sumatra.

"The Australian aircraft, after completing the period it was assigned to provide assistance to put out the fires in the forest and land areas in South Sumatra, is now headed back to its country," Rampangilei said on Monday.

A Malaysian aircraft, too, completed its assistance period, which only leaves the Singaporean aircraft that is still helping in extinguishing the fires in South Sumatras forest and land areas.

The disaster management agency continues its efforts to fight the ongoing forest fires.(*)

Read more!

Malaysia: Selangor hard hit by haze

New Straits Times 21 Oct 15;

SHAH ALAM: The air quality in Selangor appears to be deteriorating with Shah Alam registering an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 226 this morning.

Port Klang is not far behind with an API of 200, just seven points below the very unhealthy category.

The other three stations in Selangor also recorded increasingly worsening API with Banting registering a reading of 181 followed by Petaling Jaya (183), and Kuala Selangor recording 152.

Elsewhere, areas which recorded unhealthy API this morning were Putrajaya (189), Batu Muda (164), Cheras (147), Seremban (150), Port Dickson (117), Nilai (145), Bukit Rambai (120), and Bandaraya Melaka (114).

In the northern states, areas with unhealthy readings include USM (143), Seberang Jaya 2 (143), Perai (120), Tanjung Malim (122), Seri Manjung (143), SK Jalan Pegoh, Ipoh (149), Kg Air Putih, Taiping (118), Jalan Tasek, Ipoh (136), Alor Setar (131), Bakar Arang, Sg Petani (137), and Langkawi (127). Over in Sarawak, areas with unhealthy API readings are Kuching (131), Samarahan (135) and Sarikei (115).


Haze may end when monsoon starts
PATRICK LEEANDWANI MUTHIAH The Star 21 Oct 15;

PETALING JAYA: Even if Indonesian fires burn well into 2016, the haze in Malaysia is likely to end with the coming of the north-east monsoon, which starts next month.

The Meterological Department said winds from the South China Sea heading here then could push the smoke away to the west.

“By early November, we expect to be free from the transboundary haze. We’re going to have the north-east monsoon from the South China Sea,” said director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail.

Referring to a Reuters report that the haze could go on until March, she said that irrespective of burning in Indonesia, Malaysia would not be affected.

She said the haze here, which saw the air pollutant index reading climb to 178 in Port Klang at 5pm yesterday, was expected to improve with Typhoon Koppu now in the Philippines weakening by Oct 26.

In Klang, the town was seriously under assault yesterday.

Visibility was so bad that speedboat operators plying from Port Klang jetty to Pulau Ketam had to depend on their global positioning system (GPS) to find their way about.

Speedboat United Pulau Ketam-Port Klang chairman Lim Hack Tong said it was difficult to navigate the speedboats towards the island without GPS help due to the heavy smog.

He said speedboat operators were finding it difficult to make a living since the haze hit Klang.

He added that speedboat operators mostly depended on tourists and locals visiting Pulau Ketam during the weekends but the numbers had dropped drastically in recent times.

The thick haze has also prompted some schools to take precautionary measures such as directing students to wear masks in the classroom.

Chung Hua Independent High School board of trustees member Datuk Teh Meng Huat said students had to attend classes as they needed to prepare for the Unified Examination Certificate exam, which starts today.

“Although the haze is bad, we cannot close our school due to the examination, so we have asked the students to wear masks during classes,” said Teh.

Northeast monsoon to end the haze?
New Straits Times 21 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD) does not see the haze prolonging till March as the northeast monsoon season, beginning next month, would bring heavy rainfall.

Its director-general, Datuk Che Gayah Ismail, said the northeast monsoon season would also cause the wind to blow away from the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak.

“The wind during this monsoon season will blow from the sea.

“We are certain that no matter how bad the burning is in Indonesia, it will not come Malaysia’s way,” Che Gayah told the New Straits Times yesterday, adding that Malaysia could expect some reprieve from the haze on Monday.
“The haze is due to the inter-monsoon season, which is blowing the smog this way.”

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said the haze was due to the effects of cyclones caused by the El Nino phenomenon, and if the northeast monsoon season came on time, the change in wind patterns might bring some reprieve by mid-November.

The ministry yesterday also issued a statement to dismiss fake viral Air Pollutant Index (API) readings and news on a “yellow haze” phenomenon circulating via WhatsApp and social media.

It said throughout the period, the Department of Environment (DoE) monitored the haze and the exposure of carbon monoxide had been below the Recommended Malaysia Air Quality Guidelines, which is less than 30 parts per million (ppm) per hour or 35 microgram per meter.

“The readings of the carbon monoxide were below the Recommended Malaysia Air Quality Guidelines, and it does not cause the “yellow haze” phenomenon.”
As of 5pm yesterday, 25 areas recorded unhealthy API readings, but all the readings were below 200 with Port Klang recording the highest API reading at 178.

Environmental Health and Research fellow from the United Nations University-International Institute for Global Health, Professor Dr Jamal Hisham Hashim, in explaining the seemingly “yellowish” haze, said it was possibly due to light absorption from other particles, which accumulated in the current stagnant air.

Besides the haze, he said, the air was filled with nitrogen oxide, which comes from local air pollutants such motor vehicles’ fumes.

“The nitrogen oxide can block blue and violet lights from the visible light spectrum, allowing only yellow and red colours through.

“The air is stagnant and whatever we produce will accumulate in the air,” he said adding that the “yellowish haze was unlikely to be toxic as it was only a light phenomenon”.

Additional reporting by Tasnim Lokman and Beatrice Nita Jay


No yellow haze, says DOE
The Star 21 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of the Environment (DOE) has denied the existence of the "yellow haze" phenomena as is being spread on social media.

DOE said its monitoring of the haze situation in the country found the concentration of carbon monoxide was low and did not cause the phenomena.

"The reading on the carbon monoxide concentration is less that the Recommended Malaysia Air Quality Guidelines, that is below 30 ppm (1 hour) or 35 microgrammes per cubic metre (1 hour).

"It does not cause the yellow haze phenomena," DOE said in a statement in clarifying the false information being spread on social media.

DOE drew attention to the fact that the Air Pollutants Index in Malaysia was the best yardstick for measuring the main pollutants in the atmosphere which are fine dust with size less than 10 micrometres (PM10); carbon monoxide; sulphur dioxide; nitrogen dioxie and ozone, in accordance to international standards. - Bernama.

Haze forced two Ipoh-bound flights to land in Subang
BALQIS ARIFFIN New Straits Times 21 Oct 15;

IPOH: Two planes that were heading to Ipoh had to be diverted to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang following the severe haze in the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport (LTSAS) here this morning.

Manager of Malaysian Airport Holding Berhad LTSAS, Mohd Ali Osman said the plane's flight from Singapore Air ATR72 and ATR72 Firefly from Johor Bharu each should have arrived at the track LTAS at 11.30am and 11.35am respectively.

"Both aircraft should have landed at the airport as scheduled.

"But we got a signal that the two aircrafts were already half way down here have diverted their course to Subang after getting early information on the haze," he said.

Ali said that so far the airport had recorded a visibility of 1,000 meters at 11.30 this morning. "However operation or the airport runway still operated as usual," he said.


Malaysians want action to end haze
VICTORIA BROWN The Star 21 Oct 15;

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians are at the end of their tether having to live with the unhealthy air probably until March next year, and are demanding concrete action from both the Government and Indonesia.
Voicing their frustration in cyberspace, many urged the Government to push Indonesia for an end to the forest fires raging in various areas in the republic.

Many commented that the haze should be tackled at the root cause.

“There has been much coverage on the haze, but little on the cause of the forest fires,” commented Facebook user Chey Vun Khen.

“The haze will not end until its root cause is solved,” he said on The Star Online Facebook page.

The Star on Monday reported that experts predict an increasing number of hotspots and raging fires in new areas in Indonesia. Along with the El Nino-like conditions, this may mean that Malaysians could be smothered by the haze until March next year.

Facebook user Usun Jau said if the cause was not tackled, the haze would keep coming back in years to come.

“By the time it ends next year, another forest fire would be created again. The cycle goes on and on,” said Jau.

Many wanted the endless cycle of haze to be stopped once and for all.

Facebook user Fook Weng Edmond Lee said Malaysia should take a class action lawsuit against Indonesia for the yearly haze problem.

“The economic consequence is enormous,” he said.

Readers said that the closure of schools every other day due to the haze was not practical.

Facebook user Siti Fatimah Zahra said that she pitied the school children and teachers because so many activities have been postponed and rescheduled.

“If they keep closing schools on weekly basis, the year end exams will never finish,” said April Blossom.

“No more closing schools! Let the kids finish their exams,” she said.

Malaysians are also worried about the health effects caused by the haze.


Schools in several Malaysian state to close for third day due to haze
The areas affected include Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Sabah and Perak, which had Unhealthy readings Tuesday afternoon.
Channel NewsAsia 20 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: Schools in several parts of Malaysia, including Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Sabah and Perak, have been advised by the Ministry of Education to close on Wednesday (Oct 21) due to the deteriorating haze conditions.

In a statement on Tuesday, the ministry said the affected areas are: Selangor; Putrajaya; Kuala Lumpur; Kuching, Padawan, Bau Lundu, Serian, Samrahan, Simunjan and Lubok Antu in Sarawak; Kinta Utara, Kinta Selatan, Manjung and Tanjung Malim in Perak; and Kuala Muda/Yan in Kedah.

“A total of 2,528 schools and 1,734,668 students from the mentioned areas will be affected,” said the ministry.

The education ministry said it had been monitoring the haze situation until 4pm and all areas affected had Air Pollutant Index (API) readings in the Unhealthy range.

However schools in Malacca and Negeri Sembilan that were closed on Tuesday will resume classes on Wednesday, along with schools in Tawau, Lahad Datu, Semporna and Kunak in Sabah, and Muar, Ledang and Segamat in Johor.

- CNA/ek

Only shift in forces of nature can end haze
ARNAZ M. KHAIRUL New Straits Times 21 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: Only a shift in attitude by the forces of nature can put an end to the environmental catastrophe brought by haze in the region.

This is how Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar put the situation into perspective today, as without natural intervention, Malaysians could be faced with hazy conditions until March.

"Our hopes that Indonesia would be able to put out peat fires in Sumatera and Kalimantan earlier this month didn't materialise because of dry weather and wind conditions," said Wan Junaidi.

"We hoped in September that winds from the South China Sea would sweep the haze in Sarawak and the Peninsula to the South.

" But a combination of the Dujuan and Mujigae typhoons in the Philippines, low pressure of winds from the South China Sea, dry conditions brought about by the El Nino effect in Indonesia had worsened the haze."

Riding on the momentum of the typhoons which hit the Philippines coming from the South, winds blew the haze from peat fires in Kalimantan towards the Peninsula.

Wan Junaidi said Malaysia will continue to provide assistance to Indonesia via the National Security Council and although a Bombardier aircraft that has been used effectively for water bombing operations had to be called back yesterday for servicing, it would be despatched back to Sumatra once maintenance is done.

He added that information provided by Indonesian authorities also indicate that the cause of massive forest fires was due to open burning which unforcedly got out of hand and spread to forests due to dry conditions.

"From what we have learned just three percent of the burning was done by multinational companies, while the rest were small holders. It just got out of hand when they failed to control the fires which then spread into the forests," said Wan Junaidi.


Malaysian parliament to debate emergency motion on haze
The Star/ANN AsiaOne 21 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR - The Dewan Rakyat will set aside one hour Wednesday to debate an emergency motion on the worsening haze situation affecting the country.

Hee Loy Sian (PKR-PJ Selatan) tabled the motion in Parliament and deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee allowed it to be debated in the august House.

Hee said that the haze had reached serious levels that were not only affecting health, but also tourism and businesses as well.

One hour will be set aside between 4.30pm to 5.30pm Wednesday for lawmakers to debate the issue plaguing the country.

As of 11am Wednesday morning, several areas recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings.

Among the areas with unhealthy readings are Petaling Jaya (187), Banting (192) and Putrajaya (194).

Port Klang and Shah Alam recorded very unhealthy API readings of 204 and 235 respectively.

"What we can hope for now is for rain to come and put out the fires in Indonesia. On our part here, cloud seeding operations will continue daily in area with an API reading of above 150," he said.

Read more!

South Thailand shrouded in haze

The Nation/ANN AsiaOne 21 Oct 15;

The per cubic metre dust particle reading in Songkhla was 94mcg, Yala at 80mcg and Narathiwat at 74mcg, Environment Region 16 Office director Halem Jehmarikan said yesterday. He also called on people with respiratory diseases to be on guard.

Meanwhile, Songkhla Fishery Association president Praporn Akuru said trawlers had to be careful as the smog affected visibility, especially at night. He said this would continue for another two days.

Read more!

Indonesian eco-resort to be accessible only from Singapore

According to the developer, visitors will only be able to access the islands in Indonesian waters via a ferry service shuttling to and from HarbourFront.
Wendy Wong Channel NewsAsia 20 Oct 15;


SINGAPORE: What is billed as the world's largest eco-park resort being built in Indonesian waters will be only accessible via ferry service from Singapore, developers of Funtasy Island said on Tuesday (Oct 20).

The 328-hectare development featuring dolphin lagoon villas, a theme park and beach club, is located 16km away from Singapore. There will be a 25-minute ferry service shuttling to HarbourFront, Funtasy Island Development (FID) said in a news conference.

Previously known as Pulau Manis, the cluster of six small islands north of Batam was acquired by Batam-based developer PT Batam Island Marina 20 years ago. Since 2010, FID has spent S$300 million on the development of the island.

The project is expected to have a soft launch by the end of the first quarter of 2016 and will now include a resort hotel developed in partnership with Louvre Hotels Group, FID announced on Tuesday.

DOLPHINS AT THE DOORSTEP

FID said 70 per cent of the island's natural environment will be preserved. The remaining 30 per cent will be allocated to the construction of 400 villas and two hotels. Director of FID Michael Yong said: "Before we even started construction, we planted 4,000 mangrove trees around the island. We also worked with the local authorities to plant almost 200 coral cubes." FID has plans for a conservation fund to plant one coral on the island for every visitor, he said.

As for its advertising which highlighted dolphins at the doorstep, Mr Yong said the waters have proven to be a suitable habitat for the mammals, and that he expects a few schools of wild dolphins to be in the area.

"We also worked with the fishermen to build structures using compacted palm tree leaves and put it around the island for growth of algae to attract small fishes, which will in turn attract dolphins around the area," he added.

Asked whether the annual haze problem could cloud the island, Mr Yong said that would be inevitable as "haze that reaches Singapore will also reach Funtasy Island". However, he said developers would plan for "more underwater activities which will not be affected by haze".

"We will have more water sport activities. We also want to propose the first cave diving training centre," he said.

Funtasy Island villas are priced at about S$750,000, but about 85 per cent of the properties have been sold or leased to date, FID said. The island is currently uninhabited, but is expected to house an estimated 1,500 staff and 3,000 visitors once it is fully functional at the next of 2016.

- CNA/ww


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S Dhanabalan to head company behind Mandai rejuvenation

The former chairman of Temasek has been appointed as the chairman of Mandai Safari Park Holdings.
Channel NewsAsia 20 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE: Mr S Dhanabalan, the former chairman of Temasek Holdings and the current chairman of its philanthropic arm Temasek Trust, will head the company that is responsible for the rejuvenation of Mandai.

In a news release on Tuesday (Oct 20), Mandai Safari Park Holdings said Mr Dhanabalan has been appointed as its chairman. The company is overseeing the concept development to turn Mandai into an integrated wildlife and nature heritage space.

“I am honoured to be part of the team that will bring the vision of a rejuvenated Mandai to reality. By adopting an integrated, sustainable and inclusive approach, we will work towards creating an attraction for Singaporeans and visitors to enjoy the biodiversity available in Singapore,” Mr Dhanabalan said.

Together with the Mandai Safari Park team, Mr Dhanabalan said he has been engaging environmental groups and civil societies.

“My recent conversations have underscored how passionate and committed people in Singapore are towards conservation today. I see the new Mandai as a space to inspire and educate people of all ages in environmental conservation.”

Mr Dhanabalan is joined by 10 other directors including Ms Claire Chiang, former Chairman of Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), and Mr Mike Barclay, who was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of WRS on Oct 1. Mr Barclay will also serve as Mandai Safari Park’s Executive Director.

In March, Mandai Safari Park commissioned an Environmental Impact Assessment of the development. The findings will be announced in the second quarter of 2016, the company said.

- CNA/cy


S Dhanabalan to chair Temasek-owned entity behind Mandai mega-project
Today Online 21 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE — Former Cabinet Minister and chairman of state-owned investment company Temasek S Dhanabalan has been appointed chairman of Mandai Safari Park Holdings, which will oversee the concept development of Mandai into a wildlife and nature heritage space.

Mr Dhanabalan — who retired as Temasek chairman in 2013 after 17 years — is currently chairman of Temasek Trust, the philanthropic arm of Temasek.

He heads the board of directors of the Mandai Safari Park Holdings, which consists 10 other directors, including Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) chief executive Mike Barclay, Singapore Tourism Board chief executive Lionel Yeo and marine biologist Leo Tan.

Mr Barclay, the former chief executive of Sentosa Development Corporation who became WRS chief executive on Oct 1, will also serve as executive director of the Mandai Safari Park Holdings.

The latter is wholly owned by Temasek and holds an 88 per cent stake in WRS.

WRS is the holding company of Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, River Safari and Singapore Zoo.

Plans for a mega-nature attraction in Mandai were first announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on a “live” television programme last year.

Early this year, Temasek, and the Ministry of Trade and Industry said Mandai could feature a new “immersive zoo-type experience” in addition to the existing attractions there. The work is set to finish around 2020.

Mr Dhanabalan and the Mandai Safari Park Holdings team have been engaging environmental groups and civil society, according to a statement issued yesterday.

“My recent conversations have underscored how passionate and committed people in Singapore are towards conservation today.

“I see the new Mandai as a space to inspire and educate people of all ages in environmental conservation,” he said.

Findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment for Mandai — conducted by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum and other agencies — are likely to be shared in the second quarter of next year.

The assessment was commissioned in March, and detailed biodiversity and physical data are being collected, said Mandai Safari Park Holdings. It will explore and incorporate sustainable solutions in the development of Mandai, which will cover about 120ha.

Ideas for Mandai include the possible relocation of Jurong Bird Park to the precinct.

A concept video that was released early this year depicted a “zoo in the air” with aerial walkways weaving through a forest, a waterfall cavern for boat rides and a walkway for wildlife crossings. WRS is also looking to use the development as a research platform.


Dhanabalan to chair Temasek's Mandai rejuvenation unit
Melissa Tan Business Times 20 Oct 15;

TEMASEK Holdings' proposal to turn Mandai into an integrated wildlife and nature heritage area has been taken another step towards realisation.

The Singapore investment firm has set up a wholly-owned unit to oversee the "concept development" for the estate's makeover and asked its former chairman S Dhanabalan to chair it, according to a press release the unit sent out on Tuesday.

Mandai Safari Park Holdings said in its statement that it commissioned a study of the proposed development's impact on the environment in March this year and expects to be able to publish findings in the second quarter of 2016. This environmental impact assessment "aims to explore and incorporate sustainable solutions in the development of the precinct", it added.

The proposed development is expected to be completed in phases over a decade and the first phase has been estimated to cost about S$1 billion, according to media reports in January 2015.

Mandai Safari said that besides driving the development plans, it will also oversee the business and strategic development of Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS).

WRS is the holding company and operator of the Singapore Zoo, Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari and River Safari. Mandai Safari owns 88 per cent of WRS and the Singapore Tourism Board owns the remaining 12 per cent.

Mandai Safari will have 10 other directors besides Mr Dhanabalan, who is also chairman of Temasek's philanthropic arm Temasek Trust. These include former WRS chairman Claire Chiang and WRS's new chief executive officer Mike Barclay.

Read more!

Air-cons to face higher energy-saving standards from next September

STACEY LIM Today Online 21 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE — Starting next September, the air-conditioners sold here will have to meet higher energy-saving standards, with a minimum energy-efficiency rating of two ticks, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said today (Oct 20).

Currently, air-conditioners that are imported into Singapore must have at least one tick under the Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme (MELS).

The number of ticks on the label indicates the relative energy efficiency of the product, with more ticks indicating better energy efficiency.

Households that switch from a one-tick to a two-tick air-conditioner can save about S$100 annually in energy costs, the NEA said.

According to a 2012 survey conducted by NEA on household energy consumption, air-conditioning accounted for 36.7 per cent of the total household electricity consumption.

By raising the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for air-conditioners, consumers can benefit from appliances with better energy efficiency, and lower energy consumption and costs at the same time, the NEA said.

They will also help to reduce Singapore’s carbon footprint.

Apart from the MEPS, consumers can also check the labels on the household appliances in stores to help them make better-informed decisions before making their purchases.

Under the MELS, electrical appliances, such as air-conditioners, refrigerators and clothes dryers, are required to have labels that carry useful information, such as their annual energy consumption and energy costs.

The NEA regularly reviews the MEPS of various household appliances to ensure that the standards keep up with technological improvements as well as with changing market conditions.

The MEPS and MELS will also be extended to other appliances, such as water heaters and general lighting.

To allow importers, manufacturers and retailers sufficient time to clear their existing stocks of air-conditioners, products that are in the market or were imported before Sept 1 next year will be exempted from the regulations for a year.

Ms Swen Tan, 47, a consulting sales manager for Daikin Airconditioning, said the regulation that will take effect next September will have “minimal impact” on the company as most of its air-conditioning models are rated “more than two ticks”.

She added: “It is good (on the part) of the NEA because we are going towards a green and efficient performance (of air conditioning), and we recommend the end-user to use energy-efficient appliances to reduce carbon emissions.”


Higher energy standards for air-conditioners from next September
Air-conditioners being sold in Singapore must have a minimum energy-efficiency rating of at least two ticks, up from one tick currently.

Channel NewsAsia 20 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE: Starting next September, air-conditioners being sold in Singapore will have to meet higher energy standards with a minimum energy-efficiency rating of at least two ticks, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Tuesday (Oct 20).

Currently, air-conditioners that are imported into Singapore must have at least one tick under the Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme. The number of ticks on the label indicates the relative energy efficiency of the product.

Households that switch from a one-tick to a two-tick air-conditioner can save about S$100 annually in energy costs, the NEA said.

According to a survey conducted by NEA on household energy consumption, air-conditioning accounts for about 37 per cent of a household’s electricity consumption.

To allow importers, manufacturers and retailers sufficient time to clear their existing stocks of air-conditioners, products that are in the market or were imported before Sep 1, 2016 will be exempted from the regulations for a year, NEA said.

- CNA/cy


Less energy-efficient air-cons to be phased out
Carolyn Khew Straits Times AsiaOne 22 Oct 15;

Air-conditioning accounts for about 37 per cent of total household energy consumption here, the highest of all home appliances. Switching to a more energy-efficient model will help each household save $100 a year in energy costs.

Photo: The Straits Times

In a bid to cut Singapore's energy consumption, the National Environment Agency (NEA) will phase out less energy-efficient air-conditioners by September next year.

Currently, air-conditioning models sold here must have at least one tick on the energy label, which is used to help consumers gauge how energy-efficient a particular electrical appliance is.

From September next year, however, the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) will be raised and all models here will be required to have at least two ticks.

The electrical appliance will be the first to have the minimum requirement of two ticks, meaning it uses less energy.

The switch will help a household save $100 annually in energy costs, the agency said, adding that it is giving importers, manufacturers and retailers enough time to clear their existing stocks.

Products that are on the market or imported before Sept 1 next year will be exempted from regulations for a year, meaning that they can be on sale until September 2017.

The NEA added that it will review the MEPS from time to time and assess whether standards for household appliances should be raised.

Introduced in 2008, the Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme also covers refrigerators and clothes dryers. Under it, the more ticks awarded, the more energy-efficient the product is.

According to a 2012 NEA study on household energy consumption, air-conditioning accounted for about 37 per cent of total household electricity consumption - the highest among all home appliances.

The labelling scheme is part of the Government's bid to reduce its energy consumption and ecological footprint.

Singapore has pledged to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted for each dollar of gross domestic product by 36 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030.

Retailers The Straits Times spoke to yesterday said that they generally had no issues about phasing out the less efficient air-conditioners.

Retailer Gain City, for instance, said that only 3 per cent of its air-conditioners are one tick.

Furniture and electronics retail giant Courts Singapore said it stopped selling one tick air-conditioners last year.

While retailers say air-conditioners that are more energy-efficient are likely to cost more, it will not deter some, like housewife Wendy Choo, from buying them.

"I'll pay more for energy savings," said the 57-year-old. "In the long term, you can save a lot in terms of usage cost."

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Singapore: Walking a wild path at Pulau Ubin

Jim Eagles New Zealand Herald 21 Oct 15;

At Pulau Ubin, away from Singapore's glossy towers, Jim Eagles comes face to face with some local wildlife.

In a clearing beside the track was a massive old tree which soared above the surrounding forest. Around its base were clustered the carved stones of a Muslim burial area.

And, this being Singapore, up its trunk climbed the wires and insulators of a lightning conductor.

"This is a pulai tree," said Alan, the national parks conservation officer who was showing us round the island of Pulau Ubin. "It is very old and very precious."

That, presumably, was why it was protected by a lightning conductor? "Yes. Many of our finest trees are struck by lightning and destroyed. So for this tree we spent $10,000 to keep it safe. We brought in some expert tree climbers to take the wire right to the top."

Looking up at the way the tree disappeared out of sight high above the jungle canopy I thought that must have been some climb. And I asked Alan if the effort had been worthwhile.

"Oh, yes," he said. "It has been struck by lightning several times. You can see on the counter."

Looking at the little counter I saw it registered "5". So, but for the lightning conductor, the tree would have been hit by lightning five times. "Yes," said Alan. "It would have been destroyed."

But this is Singapore, where more than five million people live in an area the size of Lake Taupo, a place where they don't do things by halves.

During the decades when all effort was concentrated on transforming this cluster of tropical islands into a modern city, Pulau Ubin was almost obliterated, its stone - the name means Granite Island - dug out of six huge quarries, its forests cut down to make way for rubber, pineapple and coffee plantations, its bays dammed for prawn farming,

But 50 or so years ago, when the Government decided to make Singapore a garden city, that process went into reverse. The quarries are now tranquil lakes where waterfowl play. The jungle has largely grown back and native birds and animals have returned. The coastline has been restored.

These days Pulau Ubin provides Singaporeans and visitors with a taste of what Singapore was like before Sir Stamford Raffles arrived in 1819 and transformed the peaceful island off the coast of Asia into a global trading hub.

To get there involves taking a ride in a bumboat - small wooden craft able to carry a dozen passengers - from the Changi Point Ferry Terminal.

We headed for the jewel in the island's crown, the 100ha Chek Jawa Wetlands, pausing only to inspect some of the most interesting trees, including one of the surviving rubber trees, still dripping its sticky white juice into a bowl, and a cluster of durian trees

The restoration of the island has attracted back mischievous monkeys and the magnificent oriental pied hornbill - black and white birds with huge yellow beaks.

As we did the 600m coastal boardwalk, Alan pointed out an inlet "where a family of otters often comes to play" - sadly not today - and a bay where the red jungle fowls - ancestors of today's domestic chickens - feed when the tide is out.

Ironically, these ancient chickens are now the only fowls on the island because, Alan said, "after the last bird flu outbreak all the domestic chickens were slaughtered.

At one point the boardwalk crosses a big area of seagrass where "the biologists have found the feeding trails of dugong - seacows - though I have never seen any dugong here myself."

Because the tide was in we weren't able to spot the dugong trails or enjoy the many species that flourish on the mudflats but we did get to see plenty of fish including a large shoal of fine fat yellowtails.

Towards the end, when we got closer to shore, we were able to enjoy the antics of the mudskippers, amphibians with legs and fishtails, equally at home on land or in the sea, foraging along the water's edge.

The coastal walk leads on to another 500m of boardwalk through a forest of several types of mangrove - some of them massive trees with equally massive aerial root systems - and other coastal plants.

Among them was the nipa palm whose fruit, which grows in picturesque brown clusters, makes a famous local dessert.

I was intrigued by what looked like mud volcanoes along the way. "Those are the homes of mud lobsters. You are not likely to see them because they come out when their homes are covered in water."

Suddenly I saw what might be a mud lobster coming out of one of the volcanoes. "Sorry, no," said Alan. "That is only a crab. That is the tenant. The owner is about a metre down under the mud."

There was a flurry of excitement when some youngsters walking behind us spotted a monitor lizard prowling along the edge of the wetland under the boardwalk, its blue tongue flicking out, looking for titbits left by the falling tide.

And there was even more excitement at the end of the walk when a sow and half a dozen large piglets emerged from the forest seemingly keen to pose for pictures. Alan, who had earlier told us we were highly unlikely to see any of the wild pigs on the island, sighed. "Someone has been feeding them. We tell them not to. There are signs up saying it is forbidden. But it is still happening."

Some of the other species on the island that we hadn't seen were on display in the visitor centre which occupies an extraordinary tudor-style house built by English colonial officials in the 1930s and famous for having probably the only genuine fireplace in Singapore.

The fireplace no longer works - I can't imagine why anyone would ever have wanted to light a fire with temperatures in the 30s and humidity in the 90s - because the chimney has been closed off to protect a family of pouched tomb bats that have made a home there.

When I expressed interest in the bats one of the park officials told me the water tower for the house was home to a family of Malayan false vampire bats.

Thank goodness, I thought, that they weren't real vampire bats.

But then, this being Singapore, if they were real vampire bats they'd probably be fixed up with an artificial supply of blood to keep them healthy and the locals safe.

CHECKLIST

Getting there: Singapore Airlines flies daily from Auckland to Singapore.

Where to stay: Hotel Fort Canning is a modern hotel set in a tranquil historic park in the heart of downtown Singapore.

For more information: Visit yoursingapore.com

The writer travelled with help from Singapore Airlines and Singapore Tourism Board.

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Best of our wild blogs: 20 Oct 15

Love MacRitchie Booth @ NUS FASS
BES Drongos

preening common kingfisher @ SBWR - Oct2015
sgbeachbum

Papua fires send haze to Micronesia; Indonesia elections commission hints at environment debate
Mongabay Environmental News

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Hazy new year: Southeast Asia set to suffer for months as Indonesia fails to douse fires

MICHAEL TAYLOR Reuters 19 Oct 15;

Indonesian forest fires that have caused choking smoke to drift across Southeast Asia are spreading to new areas and are unlikely to be put out until next year, experts said on Monday.

Indonesia has come under increased pressure from its neighbours to contain the annual "haze" crisis, which is caused by slash-and-burn agriculture practices, largely on Sumatra and Kalimantan.

But it has failed to put out the fires, with "hot spots" growing in eastern parts of the country and industry officials and analysts estimating the smoke will last until early 2016.

"Maybe it will last until December and January," said Herry Purnomo, a scientist at the Center for International Forestry Research, adding that hot spots had reached Papua, a region that usually avoids widespread fires.

"It is because people are opening new agriculture areas, like palm oil," he said.

A senior official at a company active in Indonesia's forested areas said the haze could continue until March.

Indonesia usually enters its wet season in October and November, but this year the country is expected to face moderate El Nino dry conditions which could strengthen until December and may hinder efforts to control the fires.

Indonesia's national disaster management agency has made several forecasts for when the forest fires will be brought under control, many of which have now passed, but their latest target date is early November.

Indonesia has revoked the land licences of PT Mega Alam Sentosa and state-owned PT Dyera Hutan Lestari, Rasio Rido Sani, the director general for law enforcement at the forestry ministry, told reporters late on Monday.

Both firms could not be reached for comment.

Last month, Indonesia ordered four companies to suspend operations for allegedly causing forest fires.

On the ground, NASA satellites detected 1,729 fire alerts across Indonesia on Wednesday, a national holiday, more than any single day in the last two years.

About half of the fires during the last week have been on carbon-rich peat land areas, mostly in South Sumatra, South and Central Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has increased government efforts to tackle the haze in recent weeks, making several visits to the worst-hit areas and asking other countries for help, but apparently to little avail.

"We all know that the burnt areas are now widening beyond normal conditions," Widodo told reporters on Sunday. " ... the efforts to extinguish the fires are ongoing now both by land and air. We have to be patient because the burnt areas is now wide."

(Additional reporting by Cindy Silviana, Bernadette Christina and Agustinus Beo Da Costa; Reporting by Michael Taylor; Editing by Nick Macfie and Mark Potter)


UPDATE 1-Hazy new year: Southeast Asia set to suffer for months as Indonesia fails to douse fires
(Adds forestry ministry action)
Michael Taylor Reuters 19 Oct 15;

Oct 19 (Reuters) - Indonesian forest fires that have caused choking smoke to drift across Southeast Asia are spreading to new areas and are unlikely to be put out until next year, experts said on Monday.

Indonesia has come under increased pressure from its neighbours to contain the annual "haze" crisis, which is caused by slash-and-burn agriculture practices, largely on Sumatra and Kalimantan.

But it has failed to put out the fires, with "hot spots" growing in eastern parts of the country and industry officials and analysts estimating the smoke will last until early 2016.

"Maybe it will last until December and January," said Herry Purnomo, a scientist at the Center for International Forestry Research, adding that hot spots had reached Papua, a region that usually avoids widespread fires.

"It is because people are opening new agriculture areas, like palm oil," he said.

A senior official at a company active in Indonesia's forested areas said the haze could continue until March.

Indonesia usually enters its wet season in October and November, but this year the country is expected to face moderate El Nino dry conditions which could strengthen until December and may hinder efforts to control the fires.

Indonesia's national disaster management agency has made several forecasts for when the forest fires will be brought under control, many of which have now passed, but their latest target date is early November.

Indonesia has revoked the land licences of PT Mega Alam Sentosa and state-owned PT Dyera Hutan Lestari, Rasio Rido Sani, the director general for law enforcement at the forestry ministry, told reporters late on Monday.

Both firms could not be reached for comment.

Last month, Indonesia ordered four companies to suspend operations for allegedly causing forest fires.

On the ground, NASA satellites detected 1,729 fire alerts across Indonesia on Wednesday, a national holiday, more than any single day in the last two years.

About half of the fires during the last week have been on carbon-rich peat land areas, mostly in South Sumatra, South and Central Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has increased government efforts to tackle the haze in recent weeks, making several visits to the worst-hit areas and asking other countries for help, but apparently to little avail.

"We all know that the burned areas are now widening beyond normal conditions," Widodo told reporters on Sunday. " ... the efforts to extinguish the fires are ongoing now both by land and air. We have to be patient because the burned areas is now wide." (Additional reporting by Cindy Silviana, Bernadette Christina and Agustinus Beo Da Costa; Reporting by Michael Taylor; Editing by Nick Macfie and Mark Potter)

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PM2.5 levels hit 471 as haze situation worsens

Today Online 20 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE/JAKARTA — The haze situation took a turn for the worse last night (Oct 19), with both PM2.5 and three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings shooting up.

PM2.5, fine particulate matter that is the pollutant of concern during the haze, rocketed from 35 to 164 microgrammes per cubic metre at 9pm, to 55 to 442 microgrammes per cubic metre at 10pm. By 11pm, one-hour PM2.5 levels reached 471 in western Singapore — the highest level recorded so far this year.

The three-hour PSI, meanwhile, also surged to from 96 at 9pm to 209 at 11pm. The National Environment Agency (NEA), in its evening update, said hazy conditions can still be expected today, with the 24-hour PSI expected to be in the low to mid section of the unhealthy range. Reduced visibility is also expected if PM2.5 concentration levels are elevated, said NEA.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian forest fires that have caused the haze to drift across South-east Asia are spreading to new areas and are unlikely to be put out until next year, experts said yesterday. “Maybe (the fires) will last until December and January,” said Dr Herry Purnomo, a scientist at the Indonesia-based Center for International Forestry Research, adding that hot spots had reached Papua, a region that is usually spared the widespread fires.

A senior official at a company active in Indonesia’s forested areas told Reuters the haze could continue until March. Indonesia usually enters its wet season in October and November, but this year the country is expected to face moderate El Nino dry conditions, which could strengthen until December and may hinder efforts to control the fires.

Associate Professor Matthias Roth, from the National University of Singapore’s Geography Department, said that assuming that the fires continue to burn, whether Singapore will be affected depends mainly on wind direction and rain.

“We are currently at the tail end of the south-west monsoon season, which is characterised by southerly winds ... As we are now experiencing, whenever the wind direction changes towards the south-west, Singapore becomes heavily affected by the smoke haze from the fires in Sumatra,” he said. “As we enter the inter-monsoon season, which lasts approximately from October to November, the wind direction becomes more variable and hence there should be lesser occurrences of haze.”

By December, the north-east monsoon season will set in, and the prevailing winds will carry the haze from Sumatra away from Singapore.

WITH AGENCIES


Haze worsens on Monday night
Today Online 19 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE — The haze in Singapore took a turn for the worse tonight (Oct 19), with both one-hour PM2.5 and three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings shooting up. At 11pm, the one-hour PM2.5 concentration reached 471 µg/m3 in the west region, the highest recorded so far for this year.

The one-hour PM2.5, which is fine particulate matter, rocketed from 35 to 164 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m3) at 9pm, to 55 to 442 µg/m3 at 10pm. The worst-hit was western Singapore, followed by the southern areas.

At 11pm, the one-hour PM2.5 was 35 - 471µg/m3, with the western Singapore at 471µg/m3, southern Singapore at 301µg/m3 and central Singapore at 138µg/m3.

The NEA in an update said that the sharp deterioration in haze conditions in several regions of Singapore, from about 9pm, was due to denser haze from the sea areas south of Singapore being blown in by the prevailing south-southeasterly winds. "The current haze conditions are expected to gradually improve over the next few hours," said the NEA.

The NEA said on its website that the 1-hour PM2.5 concentrations reflect the PM2.5 levels averaged over one hour, and can give an indication of the current air quality. However, the one -hour PM2.5 concentration levels can be volatile and tend to fluctuate over the day especially during periods of transboundary haze. Short-term fluctuations will also be very heavily influenced by weather conditions.

The three-hour PSI, meanwhile, also surged to 152 at 10pm from 96 as at 9pm. At 11pm, the three-hour PSI breached the 200-mark, at 209. The 24-hour PSI at 11pm was 104-152, which is in the unhealthy range.

Earlier in the day, a shift in the prevailing winds brought about an improvement in the haze situation.

The National Environment Agency (NEA), in its evening update, said hazy conditions can still be expected tomorrow, with the 24-hour PSI expected to be in the low to mid section of the unhealthy range. Reduced visibility is also expected if PM2.5 concentration levels are elevated, said the NEA.

A total of 233 hotspots were detected in Sumatra today. Moderate to dense smoke haze is still persisting in parts of central and southern Sumatra, and some haze from Kalimantan is also observed to have spread to the sea areas southeast of Singapore, said the NEA.

Given the air quality forecast for the next 24 hours, the NEA advised healthy persons to reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion. The elderly, pregnant women and children should minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion, while those with chronic lung or heart disease should avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion. Persons who are not feeling well, especially the elderly and children, and those with chronic heart or lung conditions, should seek medical attention.


Singapore troops in Indonesia have put out 35 hotspots: Ng Eng Hen
The Defence Minister says 40 SAF and SCDF troops on the ground have performed 47 water-bombing operations since they were deployed on Oct 10.
Channel NewsAsia 19 oct 15;

SINGAPORE: The Singapore team helping to fight haze-causing fires in Indonesia has so far performed 47 water-bombing operations and put out 35 hotspots, said Dr Ng Eng Hen on Monday (Oct 19). The team was deployed to Palembang nine days ago with the Republic of Singapore Air Force's Chinook helicopter.

In a Facebook post, the Defence Minister said it has been a "team effort", adding that altogether there are 40 SAF and SCDF troops on the ground, including a National Serviceman who had volunteered for what has been dubbed Mission Persistence.
"Well done and keep it up," said the minister.

"They know the task is difficult and that it is hard to put out fires without the help of rain. But the SAF's presence as part of a multinational effort does send a strong signal that there is international attention and support as Indonesia seeks to address the problem of transboundary haze which has affected many neighbouring countries," he added.

Dr Ng said Singapore will continue to work with Indonesia to tackle the haze situation in Palembang.

- CNA/hs

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Malaysia: Air quality may only improve in mid-Nov, says Wan Junaidi

LOSHANA K SHAGAR The Star 19 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: The air quality in Malaysia may only improve around mid-November, when the Northeast monsoon begins and rains are expected in the region.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said human intervention was not enough to quell the raging forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

“Initially we thought the winds from South China Sea would be stronger this week and therefore stop the smog from affecting Malaysia, but the wind patterns changed with Typhoon Champi and Typhoon Koppu recently.

“This caused the wind pressure from South China Sea to drop, hence the haze is still affecting us,” he told reporters at Parliament lobby on Monday.

Dr Wan Junaidi also said Indonesia’s foreign minister had reached out to him this morning, asking for an extension period to use Malaysia’s planes which are equipped with “waterbomb” facilities to help put out forest fires.

“The plane is apparently very effective in combating the forest fires there, and Indonesia appreciates our help.

“Even so, the fires have yet to be completely extinguished, and the smog is still heading towards Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.


No end soon to the haze
NEVILE SPYKERMAN, YU JI, MUGUNTAN VANAR, NELSON BENJAMIN, RAHIMY RAHIM, LOSHANA K. SHAGAR, VINCENT LIAN, AND N. TRISHA
The Star 20 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: Schools open one day and closed the next, an increasing number of respiratory ailments and uncertainty over whether planes will be grounded or can take off could become the norm over the next five months with the unrelenting haze.

Experts say the forest fires in Indonesia, which have caused choking smoke to drift across South-East Asia, are spreading to new areas and are unlikely to be put out until next year, Reuters reported yesterday.

Despite pressure from Indonesia’s neighbours, hotspots are growing in eastern parts of the country and industry officials and analysts estimate that the smoke will last until early next year.

“Maybe it will last until December and January,” said Herry Purnomo, a scientist at the Centre for Inter­national Forestry Research headquartered in Bogor, Indonesia.

He added that the hotspots had reached Papua, a region that usually avoids widespread fires.

“It is because people are opening new agriculture areas like oil palm,” he said.

A senior official at a company active in Indonesia’s forested areas said the haze could continue until March.

Indonesia usually enters its wet season in October and November, but this year the country is expected to face moderate El Nino dry conditions, which could strengthen until December and hinder efforts to control the fires.

Indonesia’s national disaster management agency has made several forecasts for when the forest fires will be brought under control, many of which have now passed, but their latest target date is early next month.

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday, Natural Resources and Environment Minis­ter Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said human intervention was not enough to quell the raging forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

“Initially, we thought the winds from South China Sea would be stronger this week and stop the smog from affecting Malaysia, but the wind patterns changed with Typhoon Champi and Typhoon Koppu recently.

“This caused the wind pressure from South China Sea to drop, hence the haze is still affecting us.”

Dr Wan Junaidi said Indonesia’s foreign minister reached out to him yesterday, asking to use Malaysia’s plane – which is equipped with water-bombing facilities to help put out forest fires – for a longer period.

Even so, the fires have yet to be completely extinguished and the smog is still heading towards Penin­sular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, he added.

Science, Technology and Inno­vation Minister Datuk Seri Madius Tangau said that with the increase in hotspots in Indonesia, the frequent rainfall in the evenings throughout Malaysia have not been enough to reduce the haze.


Haze to continue until at least mid-November
VEENA BABULAL AND NURADZIMMAH DAIM The New Paper 19 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: If you think the haze will end anytime soon, think again.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry predicts that the smoggy conditions is expected to continue until at least mid-November.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said this was mostly due to the effects of the cyclones caused by the El Nino phenomenon.
“The smog has yet to dissipate due to the effects from El Nino. If the northeast monsoon is on time, a change in wind patterns may bring some relief by mid November," he said.

Meanwhile, Indonesia wants Malaysia to continue deploying its assets to continue fighting the blaze in Sumatra.

Wan Junaidi said requests have been made by Indonesia for the Malaysian team to remain in Sumatra.

"The aircraft, however, had to be flown back to Malaysia (temporarily) for its scheduled maintenance. Malaysia will continue deploying firefighting missions to Indonesia until the fires are put out.

"This is in line with our commitment and Prime Minister's Datuk Seri Najib Razak's promise to find a solution to the haze," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

The minister had earlier told the Dewan Rakyat that the Indonesian government has ratified the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) by depositing the ratification of the document to the Asean Secretary-General on Jan 20.

He said the agreement was reached through the Conference of the Parties to the AATHP and Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution meetings which were held periodically.

"Apart from collaborative efforts with Asean state members, Malaysia is also expected to sign an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding), which was postponed for the second time. We are pushing for it as we have yet to get a date from Indonesia.

“It will allow collaborative measures to address the matter including maintenance of peat soil that is prone to fire and monitoring to ensure that land-clearing activities including for agriculture do not involve slash-and-burn methods," he said in response to a question by Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad (BN-Kuala Kangsar) who wanted to know Malaysia's role as the Asean chairman in persuading the Indonesian government to ratify the agreement.

Wan Junaidi said Indonesia had claimed that only three per cent of the fires involving land-clearing was the fault of companies, while the remaining were caused by small holders (individuals).


Fire dept still waiting for Indonesia’s call
The Star 20 Oct 15;

NUSAJAYA: The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department has not received an official request from Indonesia for its firemen to help put out the raging peat fires.

Its director-general Datuk Wira Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim said 1,500 Malaysian firemen were available for two weeks and would do what they could to control the fires during that period.

“Both governments need to decide, as the mobilisation of such a huge team together with the equipment and vehicles will involve a huge cost,” he added.

Wan Mohd said only flooding of the area would work since much of the fires were in peatland.

“You can carry out aerial water bombing, but the best way is to fight the fires on the ground.

“There will be many challenges but with our experience in 1997, we know how to overcome these obstacles,” he said after opening the new Nusajaya fire station here yesterday.


Malaysians join global campaign to stop smog
The Star 20 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: An international campaign to get regional governments to cooperate in stopping the haze is gathering momentum here in Malaysia.

Property agent Michael Boo was among 500 Malaysians who signed a Greenpeace petition called #StoptheHaze during a roadshow at the KL Eco Film Festival (KLEFF) in Publika here over the weekend.

Boo, 50, said he fully supported calls for the governments of Malay­sia, Singapore and Indonesia to work together to reform the forestry and plantation sectors.

“There seems to be no end to the haze this year,” he added.

Boo said his 17-year-old daughter was scheduled to sit for her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination this year and hoped the examination would not be disrupted.

A Greenpeace Malaysia official said the online campaign started two weeks ago and thousands around the world have signed the petition.

He said it also aimed at getting these governments to stop the annual occurrence of forest fires and protect as well as restore the remaining peatlands.

The online campaign pointed out that the fires are raging through forests which are critical habitats for animals such as tigers, orang utans and elephants.

“These fires are a man-made crisis, the result of decades of forest clearance and peatland drainage by plantation companies.

“The fires also show the government’s failure to protect the natural environment.”

A link to the campaign can be found on Greenpeace Malaysia’s Facebook page.


Flights at Tawau airport back to normal
The Star 20 Oct 15;

KOTA KINABALU: Flight operations in and out of Sabah’s south western Tawau airport returned to normal though thick haze conditions kept schools in the district closed.

Tawau airport manager Yakub Abu Bakar said that air traffic operations were not disrupted as visibility improved from less then a kilometre early yesterday to three kilometres.

“We are still on alert as situation might change,” he said, adding that the poor visibility had disrupted flight operations on Sunday.

Tawau, which borders Indonesia’s Kalimantan in Borneo, saw the unhealthy air pollutant index hovering at 165 with little signs of lifting on yesterday as 198 schools closed.

Sabah Education director Datuk Jame Alip said some 112,000 students and 9,623 teachers were affected by the closure of the schools that not only involved Tawau but also neighbouring districts of Semporna, Kunak and Lahad Datu.

Heavy rains and strong winds over west coast Sabah during the weekend also brought back hazy conditions in the city here and Labuan.

A Meteorological Services Department spokesman said that the visibility in Labuan was 5km while in Kota Kinabalu it was 8km at noon. Other areas including Sandakan and Kudat were above 10km, the spokesman said, adding that the haze was being blown into the area due to the current south westerly winds.

There were over 150 hotspots in the Kalimantan area.

Meanwhile, the haze is causing Malaysians to spend more on supplements and herbal remedies.

Richard Lian and Josephine Woon sacrificed their favourite coffee routine as they were getting a sore throat from going out in the haze.

Woon, who suffers from sinus problems, and her husband Lian are now trying to fortify their immune system with vitamin supplements, Chamomile honey tea and herbal tea.

The couple, who own a fruit shop, said they had to take supplements and tea as they had to go outside the house every day to collect fruits for their business.

They added that there was an increased demand for lemons from their customers. Lemons are also said to help those who have phlegm.

Student Nicole Ng, 19, has asthma and is forced to stay indoors most of the time and keep the windows shut and doors closed because of the haze.

“My mom boiled leung cha (herbal tea) for my body to cool down.

“I also turn on the air conditioner to make sure I do not get an asthma attack in my own home,” said Ng who’s not missing classes right now because she is on her semester break.

Grocery shop assistant Parimala Verasamy, 36, has visited the pharmacy three times this month because of the haze.


Schools in several haze-hit states to remain closed tomorrow
JOSEPH KAOS JR The Star 19 Oct 15;

PUTRAJAYA: Schools that were closed in several states on Monday due to the haze will continue to be closed on Tuesday as the air quality shows little improvement.

The Education Ministry, in a statement Monday, announced that schools in Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Kuching and Samarahan in Sarawak, and Tawau in Sabah, will remain closed.

In addition, schools in Lahad Datu, Semporna and Kunak in Sabah, as well as Muar, Ledang and Segamat in Johor, have also been instructed to close on Tuesday.

"Based on the ministry's observation at 1pm today, the API (Air Pollution Index) level at the affected areas remained 'Unhealthy'.

"The closure will affect 1,909,842 students in 3,029 schools nationwide," the ministry said.


Contingency plans in place if haze worsens during exam period, says Education Ministry
RAHIMY RAHIM The Star 19 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: Contingency plans are in place if the haze worsens during the crucial year-end examination period, says Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

He said the Cabinet was seriously concerned with the haze but that it has a special task force to deal with any situation.

"We have to monitor the schools especially those in Form 5 and Form 6 who are in their last lap to face examinations.

"Our committee will meet every week to discuss the contingency plan.

"We have plan A...Plan B...Plan C..and see what happens if it continue until the SPM examination period," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby Monday.

Schools that were closed in several states on Monday will continue to be closed Tuesday as the air quality shows little improvement.

The closure will affect a total of 1,909, 842 students and 3, 029 schools nationwide.

Asked if action will be taken against private school who are still operating despite the order, Mahdzir said all schools that were operating with the Ministry's license should also be closed.

"Sometimes when it is near the examination period, some school principals had requested to proceed with school operations.

"As long as it is agreed upon by the school management and the parents, it is alright.

"We do not want students to be forced to go to school," he said.


Parents doubt API readings, UEC tests to go on
The Star 20 Oct 15;

KUCHING: The closure of schools here and in nearby Samarahan despite relatively low air pollutant index (API) readings has given parents more reason to doubt the system’s accuracy.

Indra Devindran, whose daughter is in Standard One, had to double check the authenticity of the 8pm news on Sunday because the API reading was only 100 then.

“In the last few weeks, there were days when the API was much higher but classes went on.

“Why are schools closed now when the API is so much lower?” Indra asked, adding that her daughter’s final exams were supposed to start yesterday.

“We have to change plans to keep her company at home as she revises.”

University lecturer Greg Wee shared the sentiment. On Sunday night, he had to check with school teachers about the closures.

Wee took the decision not to send his daughter to school for several days last month.

He said he trusted his own assumptions more than the system, which he described as likely “inaccurate”.

Wee was referring to the Depart­ment of Environment’s explanation last month that API readings published by the Malaysian Government were 24-hour averages.

In Singapore, 24-hour averages are reported alongside three-hour averages and hourly updates.

Wee said Malaysians needed to have more trust in the API system so that they could better plan their activities.

In Kuala Lumpur, the United Chinese School Committees’ Assoc­iation (Dong Zong) announced that the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) tests for Chinese independent schools would go on as scheduled despite the haze.

The exams will be held from tomorrow until next Tuesday for junior, senior high schools and vocational students.


Hazy conditions to persist until Thursday
The Star 19 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: Poor visibility conditions of less than three kilometres in waters off Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Malacca, Johor, Kuching and Tawau are expected to continue until Thursday.

The seven state territorial waters are among 17 areas shrouded in haze in the country areas and with Air Pollutant Index (API) readings of above 101 as at 8am Monday.

According to the Meteorology Department, the condition is dangerous to ships, which are not equipped with navigational devices.

A similar condition is also forecast in the Straits of Malacca and waters off Tioman, Bunguran, Kuching and Sulawesi. - Bernama

18 areas record unhealthy API readings
P. DIVAKARAN The Star 19 Oct 15;

PETALING JAYA: The haze continues to worsen as the Air Pollutant Index (API) in 18 areas nationwide recorded unhealthy levels, with Seremban almost reaching the "very unhealty" level as of 1pm Monday.

According to the Department of Environment (DOE) website, Seremban had the highest API reading at 198, with Nilai (160), Bukit Rambai (158), Malacca city (156), Port Dickson (154), Tanjung Malim (106) and Kemaman (103) at unhealthy levels.

In the Klang Valley, the areas most affected by the haze are Banting (164), Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur (164), Putrajaya (152), Port Klang (144), Shah Alam (140), Petaling Jaya (136) and Cheras (131).

Meanwhile Tawau, Sabah recorded an API of 159.

On Sunday, Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid announced that primary and secondary schools in Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Tawau in Sabah as well as Kuching and Samaraham in Sarawak would be closed on Monday due to the high API readings in those areas.

An API of 51 to 100 indicates moderate air quality, 101 to 200 is unhealthy, 201 to 300 is very unhealthy and above 300 is hazardous.

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Indonesia: Government shares responsibility to prevent forest fires

Antara 19 Oct 15;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government will share responsibility with local administration and companies to prevent forest fires and cope with any incidents of fire outbreaks.

"The central government cannot control the forest fires all alone. It will involve local administration and companies that own the right to manage forests to cope with such fires," President Joko Widodo said in a joint interview he gave to ANTARA, RRI and TVRI here on Monday.

The head of the state said the problem of forest fires and smoke has been going on for the last 18 years. It should be addressed and anticipated properly if such incidents are to be prevented in the future.

"Corporations should also be responsible and they must have their own infrastructure and facilities in place to overcome forest fires," the President said.

In order to handle smoke and forest fires, the President noted, Indonesia has deployed 19,000 military and police personnel as well as other components of the state.

In addition, the government also carried out the construction of the canals to control peatland fires.

"The solution is to build partitioned canals. The development of canals needs a lot of time because an area of 1.7 million hectares was involved. This is not an easy job. We have deployed 19,000 military and police personnel to build partitioned canals," the President said.

Nevertheless, the President underlined the role of local governments and communities in the vicinity of the burned area to take preventive measures in relation to land and forest fires.

"The local government and communities have a major role in anticipating forest fires. Right now, we need their cooperation to overcome the problems," the President said.

The governments efforts to extinguish forest fires can be successful, the President noted, if all the parties can work together.

Earlier, the number of hotspots in South Sumatra Province dropped drastically to 163 from 500 recorded a few days ago at a time when Indonesia is transitioning from dry to rainy season.

The hotspots were detected in nine of the provinces 17 districts, Indra Purnama of the South Sumatra meteorology office, reported here on Monday.

The largest number of hotspots was detected in Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) which had 100 hotspots, Musirawar had 26, Muaraenim 13, Musi Banyuasin 11, Ogan Komering Ulu eight, Lahat six, North Musirawas five, and East and South OKU had one hotspot, respectively.

A joint team comprising Indonesian personnel and fire fighters from Malaysia, Singapore and Australia have intensified their efforts to put out the fires, particularly in OKI, by dropping water bombs.

South Sumatra is also expected to receive rains in the near future as the El Nino natural phenomenon had triggered a prolonged drought in parts of Indonesia.

In the meantime, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Forestry Siti Nurbaya stated on Oct. 9 that 1.7 million hectares of forest and land areas had so far been burnt in the fires this year.

Moreover, millions of people, including those from Malaysia and Singapore, have become victims of the haze.

During the period between June 29 and October 5, 2015, at least 307,360 people in six Indonesian provinces had sought medical treatment for respiratory ailments and other conditions caused by smoke or haze from the forest fires.(*)


Most companies in Riau not ready to tackle forest fires
Antara 19 Oct 15;

Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA News) - Riau Provinces Forestry Department Chief Fadrizal Labay here on Monday revealed that only 22 of the 61 forestry companies in the area were ready to overcome land and forest fires.

The statement was made during a coordination meeting with several officials and representatives of companies to overcome forest and land fires.

The 61 companies comprised three Forest Management Rights (HPH) license holders and the rest are Manager Plantation Forests (HTI) license holders.

The local government is now awaiting a regulation from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry on the minimum standards of human resources and infrastructure for firefighters that could serve as a standard reference for the operating companies.

"We would also evaluate and verify the preparedness of the companies," Fadrizal affirmed.

The evaluation is conducted to ensure that the action plan on the prevention of land and forest fires is actually carried out by the companies.

One of the points is to restore insulation canals, which were built during the companies operations in Riau.

Based on data from the Riau Forestry Service, a total of 3,887 canals were made when the companies commenced their operations, and the government had only built 80 canals.

Fadrizal emphasized that the companies efforts are deemed necessary to prevent fires as most of the peatland areas in Riau were prone to fires.

"During the year, 1.8 thousand hotspots were observed in Riau, with nearly 24 percent recorded in Pelalawan, followed by Indragiri Hulu and Bengkalis," Fadrizal said.

Meanwhile, Head of the Environment Agency of Riau Yulwiriawati Moesa stated that the hotspots were detected in 39 companies in Riau in 2015.

"We have written to the companies to conduct evaluation and prevention efforts," Yulwiriawati remarked.(*)


More hot spots found in Kalimantan: BNPB
The Jakarta Post 19 Oct 15;

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said on Sunday that hot spots continued to be detected in forested areas of Kalimantan and Sumatra in spite of the government’s coordinated efforts to put them out.

“We still can’t put out the fires,” BNPB spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said as quoted by Antara news agency.

Sutopo said that fires had spread to forests in East Kalimantan.

Data from the BNBP said that Jambi had 108 hot spots, Riau Island 10 hot spots, Riau 57 hot spots, while South Sumatra and Lampung had 871 hot spots and 39 hot spots, respectively.

In Kalimantan, the BNPB said it found 212 hot spots, with at least 156 hot spots in Central Kalimantan.

“If we look through a satellite, we can find more hot spots,” he said.

Sutopo said that efforts to put out the fires were continuing with the help of neighboring countries, including Malaysia and Singapore.


Indonesia Has Deposited Ratification Documents In January
Bernama 19 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- The Indonesian government has ratified the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) by depositing the ratification of the document to the ASEAN Secretary-General on Jan 20, 2015, the Dewan Rakyat sitting was told Monday.

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the agreement was reached through the 'Conference of the Parties to the AATHP' and 'Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution' meetings which were held periodically.

"Through the two forums, Malaysia and the other ASEAN member nations had urged the Indonesian government to speed up the AATHP ratification process," he said.

He was replying to a question from Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad (BN-Kuala Kangsar) who wanted to know Malaysia's role as the ASEAN chairman in persuading the Indonesian government to speed up the agreement.

Wan Junaidi said the AATHP was the first regional agreement in the world that bound the neighbouring countries in terms of the law in tackling the haze problems due to the forest and peat soil fires.

It encompasses five thrusts namely cooperation in developing preliminary measures in monitoring the haze, preventing land and forest fires, implementing joint reciprocal procedures on pollution, setting up an ASEAN haze fund and implementing scientific research cooperation on the problems of transborder haze.

He said Malaysia was the first among the ASEAN member countries to ratify the AATHP agreement on Dec 3, 2002.

Replying to a supplementary question from Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan) whether the government could take action against the companies causing the fires, Wan Junaidi said Malaysia did not have the legislation as practised by Singapore.

Singapore had earlier gazetted the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014 and had adopted it this year, which enabled the republic to act against Singapore companies involved in the fires in Indonesia.

-- BERNAMA


Haze may last to 2016 as Indonesia fires rage on
New Paper AsiaOne 20 Oct 15;

JAKARTA - FOREST fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, which are shrouding parts of South-east Asia in haze, are unlikely to disappear until next year despite international effort to put them out, experts said yesterday.

Meanwhile, hot spots had popped up in Indonesia's eastern Papua province, where widespread fires have been rare, Reuters reported.

Last week Indonesia received help from Singapore, Malaysia and Australia in containing the annual "haze" crisis, which is caused by illegal slash-and-burn practices involving plantation companies.

But the effort has failed to put out the fires and industry officials and analysts estimate the smoke will last until early next year.

"Maybe it will last until December and January," said Herry Purnomo, a scientist at the Bogor-based Centre for International Forestry Research.

On the Papua hot spots, he said: "It is because people are opening new agriculture areas, like palm oil."

A senior official at a company active in Indonesia's forested areas said the haze could continue until March.

Malaysia's environment minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar warned yesterday that the region could face several more weeks of choking haze until the rainy season starts.

Malaysia was forced once again to close schools in several states and Kuala Lumpur yesterday due to unhealthy air, said the minister.

"Unless there is rain, there is no way human intervention can put out the fires," he told Agence France-Presse.

Indonesia usually enters its wet season this month and November, but the country is expected to face moderate El Nino dry conditions this year, which could strengthen until December and may hinder efforts to control the fires.

Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said yesterday that satellite data indicated Indonesia now had more than 1,500 hot spots.

"The actual number is higher as the satellite is not able to penetrate the thickness of the haze in Sumatra and Borneo," Mr Sutopo added.

On Friday, Indonesia launched its biggest fire-fighting assault yet, with dozens of planes and thousands of troops battling the blazes in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

Thirty-two planes and helicopters - including six aircraft from Singapore, Malaysia and Australia - were deployed to back up more than 22,000 personnel on the ground.

Yesterday, Jakarta warned another four plantation companies from taking part in the burning, suspended the operating licences of another four, and revoked those of two, news portal Detik reported.

That brings the total of firms sanctioned by the government to 14, said Detik.

Meanwhile, local petitions urging the government to put out the fires quickly has exceeded 1,000 at a website, with some lamenting that hot spots have appeared in Papua and the Moluccas.

In Singapore, the National Environment Agency said in a 6.30pm update yesterday that the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index for the next 24 hours is expected to be in the low to mid sections of the unhealthy range.


Aussie firies wrap up Sumatra mission
GABRIELLE DUNLEVY, AAP The Australian 19 Oct 15;

INDONESIA will hire commercial planes to fight its enormous forest fires as foreign crews, including one from Australia, return home.

AN Australian water bombing plane spent five days in South Sumatra, dousing fires from land clearing that have spread air pollution throughout Southeast Asia for weeks.

Schools in Kuala Lumpur and other Malaysian states were closed on Monday due to the haze.

After pressure from its neighbours, Indonesia eventually accepted foreign assistance.

Aerial crews on loan from Australia and Malaysia return home on Tuesday.

The NSW Rural Fire Service's Ben Millington, team leader for the deployment, says the hazy conditions and the scale of the task were particularly challenging.

"The size of the area and the magnitude of the fires, it wasn't comparable to anything we've seen in Australia," he told AAP.

"We managed to protect a number of homes and crops from fire ... The task of the Indonesian authorities is huge."

Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho says they will now seek any available commercial planes and helicopters to aid the effort.

"The help from Australia was significant in the areas where they were extinguishing fires," he told AAP.

"But remember the area on fire is hugely vast, it could not extinguish it all."

Some fires are in peatland that can smoulder for weeks, meaning the number of "hotspots" firefighters must tackle keeps fluctuating.

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