Singapore’s skyscrapers were shrouded in haze and the acrid smell of burnt wood pervaded the central business district.
(17 Jun) – Singapore urged Indonesia to take “urgent measures” on Monday as severe air pollution from a rash of forest fires on Sumatra island choked the densely populated city-state.
Singapore’s skyscrapers including the famous Marina Bay Sands casino towers were shrouded in haze and the acrid smell of burnt wood pervaded the central business district.
Parts of neighbouring Malaysia were also suffering from the smoky haze, a recurring problem Southeast Asian governments have failed to solve despite repeated calls for action.
Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) said it had alerted its Indonesian counterpart on the situation “and urged the Indonesian authorities to look into urgent measures to mitigate the transboundary haze occurrence”.
But the Indonesian forestry ministry said firefighters were already tackling the blazes and water-dropping aircraft would only be deployed if local governors made a request, which they had yet to do.
Ministry official Hadi Daryanto attempted to shift some of the blame onto Malaysia and Singapore, saying their palm oil companies that had invested in Indonesia were also responsible.
“We hope the governments of Malaysia and Singapore will tell their investors to adopt proper measures so we can solve this problem together,” he said.
More at: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130617/singapore-malaysia-choking-haze-indonesia-0