Indonesian fires cause haze crisis in Singapore and Malaysia

09:48, Mon Jun 24 2013 Forest fires across Indonesia have caused a smoky haze to shroud Singapore and Malaysia prompting safety fears over pollution. Air pollution levels soured for a third day in a row in Singapore as the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hit 401 at 12:00 on Friday (04:00 GMT) - the highest in Singapore's history. The index also reached 400 in one part of Indonesia, which is readying helicopters and cloud-seeding equipment in an effort to tackle the fires. Indonesia has said it is unfair to blame it solely for the forest fires. A senior official in the Indonesian president's office said fires had been spotted on land owned by 32 companies in the region, some of them based in Malaysia and Singapore.

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Indonesia's mindset on haze casts pall on ties

Indonesia should act more responsibly to its neighbours, says one writer, while the other points out that Singapore can monitor palm oil-related companies based on its shores that operate in Indonesia.

Indonesian Minister of Welfare Agung Laksono (left) talks to journalists next to Nicholas Jouwe (centre) the 85-year-old co-founder the Free Papua Movement (OPM), and Indonesian Minister of Transportation Fredi Numberi (right) at the Ministry of Welfare in Jakarta on January 12, 2010. Indonesia is behaving less than responsibly over the haze. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP

By Derwin Pereira For The Straits Times

INDONESIA is behaving less than responsibly over the haze. Wondering why this is so sent me back 16 years ago, when I was based in Jakarta as a correspondent for this newspaper. The 1997 haze was one of my big stories. But covering it from Jakarta was an intensely ironical exercise: It was a non-story there. The clear blue sky made people ask what the fuss elsewhere was all about. In Jakarta, life went on as usual - biasa saja in Indonesian. It still does today as I write this in Jakarta on a week-long visit, as the PSI crosses the 400 mark in Singapore. Nature is one thing - Jakartans were not bothered by the haze because they were not affected - but politics is another. Then, as now, the official mindset was clothed in Javanese imperturbability. The asap - as the haze is known in the Indonesian capital - elsewhere in the country was a problem, but it was not the country's most pressing issue. And even though the forest fires which caused the haze affected Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, there was the unspoken assumption, based on the almost imperial expectation, that Indonesia's neighbours would take the smog in their stride. In the Indonesian psychological construct of their place in South-east Asia, good neighbourliness entailed others making allowances for them, not Indonesia ensuring that it did not cause environmental problems for its neighbours in the first place. To be fair, Suharto's Indonesia, which saw itself as the natural leader of the region, tried to fit into that role with a degree of benignity towards its neighbours. Thus, the Indonesian Armed Forces was said to have deployed more than 50,000 troops - almost a fifth of its strength - for fire-fighting at one point during the ecological crisis. But then, as now, the Indonesian leadership made it clear that it, and it alone, would determine the nature, direction and timing of its response to the haze although it constituted a cross-border issue. This is how a regional power behaves. The more criticism there is of its irresponsibility, the more it is intransigent, adamant and defiant. It stands on political ceremony and insists on diplomatic protocol even as forest fires on its soil cast a pall on its relations with its neighbours. The intemperate reaction of Indonesian minister Agung Laksono exemplifies the Indonesian temperament. "Singapore should not be behaving like a child and making all this noise," he said. The condescension in those scolding remarks would have been breathtaking, except for the fact that it has a precedent in former president B.J. Habibie's magisterial dismissal of Singapore as a "little red dot". The haze underscores the reality that when it comes to the environment, geography is destiny. From presidents Sukarno to Habibie, to ministers like Mr Agung today, Singapore has never been left in any doubt that its small size and demography place it at a disadvantage in its relations with the region's largest and most populous country, next to which it is situated. What is unbecoming in all this is that it is precisely Indonesia's centrality in South-east Asian affairs that should make it behave very differently today. Unlike in 1997 - the tail-end of the Suharto regime, which would soon be overthrown as a result of the Asian economic crisis - Indonesia is a rising power now. Jakarta is a major member of Asean and of Asean-centric institutions such as the Asean Regional Forum and the East Asian Summit process. As a member of the Group of 20 emerging economies, Indonesia's influence extends beyond South-east Asia. It has entrenched democracy after the downfall of Suharto, and held on to its secular credentials in the face of religious revivalism. Indonesia is, indeed, a leader in South-east Asia. It should display that leadership by being solicitous of the welfare of its neighbours.

It demeans itself when it belittles them. Since leadership, like charity, begins at home, Indonesia should go after the companies responsible for starting the fires that are causing the haze. In the light of these psychological factors, Singapore has to tread carefully in dealing with the Indonesians over the haze. The best channel remains the bilateral one, where leaders can meet and discuss contentious issues behind closed doors. Agreements will not be possible all the time, but the threshold of understanding can go up. Naturally, both Singaporean and Indonesian leaders will be answerable to their home constituencies, but they will enjoy space for give and take at these private meetings. The haze has created public disquiet in Singapore, but we need to understand that the country cannot push for Indonesian action beyond a certain point. When all is said and done, it is only the Indonesian leadership that can decide what action to take against the errant companies or how to go about fighting the fires. Singapore can impress on Indonesia how badly it is being affected, but there is nothing it can do if the Indonesians are adamant. It is the same with the other channel, which is the Asean one. Indonesia cannot be obliged to act except where it has agreed to do so, but there is value nevertheless in "internationalising" the haze issue and making it a centrepiece of Asean's usefulness and credibility. Jakarta will have to be nudged towards ratifying the agreement on transboundary haze pollution which Asean adopted in 2002. Indonesia must realise that, as an Asean leader, it cannot be a laggard in dealing with an issue that could affect its political ties with Singapore and Malaysia. Frankly, talk of an Asean Community by 2015 rings hollow when the organisation's largest member takes its time to deal with an issue that has grave consequences for the health and economy of a fellow Asean state. Sadly, the 16 years that separate the last great haze from this one do not bear testimony to any essential change in Indonesian attitudes. But countries at the receiving end of environmental disasters must keep trying to make the other side see reason. Even if their insistence is misconstrued as behaving like a child. stopinion@sph.com.sg The writer heads Pereira International, a Singapore-based political consulting firm.
B AC KG R O U N D STO R Y

Indonesia is, indeed, a leader in South-east Asia. It should display that leadership by being solicitous of the welfare of its neighbours. It demeans itself when it belittles them. Since leadership, like charity, begins at home, Indonesia should go after the companies responsible for starting the fires that are causing the haze.

http://www.straitstimes.com/the-big-story/the-haze-singapore/story/indonesias-mindset-hazecasts-pall-ties-20130622
SINGAPORE Singapore urged people to remain indoors because of record air pollution Thursday as a smoky haze wrought by forest fires in neighboring Indonesia worsened dramatically. Nearby Malaysia closed 200 schools and banned open burning in some areas. The Pollutant Standards Index, Singapore's main measure of air pollution, surged to a record 371, breaching the "hazardous" classification that can aggravate respiratory ailments. The previous high before this week was in 1997, when the index reached 226. The hazardous reading lasted three hours before easing to 253 in the evening, still "very unhealthy." Smog fueled by raging Indonesian blazes has hit Singapore and Malaysia many times, often in the middle of the year, but the severity of this week's conditions has strained diplomatic ties. Officials in

Singapore say Jakarta must do more to halt fires on Sumatra island started by plantation owners and farmers to clear land cheaply. "This is now the worst haze that Singapore has ever faced," Singapore Environment Minister Vivian Balakrishnan wrote on his Facebook page. "No country or corporation has the right to pollute the air at the expense of Singaporeans' health and wellbeing." An Indonesian Cabinet minister criticized the public Singaporean statements, saying they should have been conveyed through diplomatic channels. "Singapore should not act like children, making all that noise," Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono said. The haze has shrouded the city-state's skyscrapers in a pall of noxious fumes and posed numerous inconveniences for Singaporeans, some of whom complained of coughs and covered their faces with handkerchiefs or masks while walking outdoors. Flight controllers at Singapore's Changi Airport were instructed to take precautions because of lower visibility, while McDonald's said it was temporarily halting delivery service to protect its workers' health. Some hospitals shut windows in wards with elderly patients to keep out the acrid odor of burning. Sports organizers canceled several football and sailing competitions this weekend. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong advised residents to stay indoors as much as possible, adding that "we will get through this together." Lee told a news conference that the haze was expected to continue for a while because of wind and weather conditions. He said a government panel was being formed to protect public health and the city-state's economic resilience. In neighboring Malaysia, air quality remained relatively unaffected in the country's biggest city, Kuala Lumpur, but a southern state that borders Singapore recorded "hazardous" pollution in one district, where 200 schools were ordered to close through at least Friday. The Department of Environment banned open burning and made it punishable by up to five years in prison in three states separated from Sumatra by the Malacca Strait. Indonesian officials have defended their response to the haze, saying the government is educating farmers about alternatives to traditional slash-and-burn agriculture. Some Indonesian officials have also suggested that some fires might be blamed on Singaporean and Malaysian companies involved in Indonesia's plantation industry.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/20/singapore-haze_n_3474055.html Firms refute illegal burning allegations

June 26, 2013MY Palm OilLeave a commentGo to comments

KUALA LUMPUR: Three Malaysian plantation companies refuted allegations that they are involved in illegal burning of forest and peat lands in Riau Province, Indonesia, which is causing the current haze situation. Sime Darby Bhd, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KLK) and TH Plantations Bhd have each issued statements yesterday, refuting allegations of involvement in open burning activities in

Indonesia and thereby causing widespread haze which is enveloping Sumatra, part of Malaysia and Singapore.

Last Saturday, Indonesian Environment Ministry had named eight companies that are being investigated for contributing to the haze by scorching their land in Riau and Jambi. Another 14 companies are also being investigated for burning, but have not been named yet. Meanwhile, Bernama quoted Association Plantation Investors of Malaysia in Indonesia (Apimi) as saying that Malaysian companies are not at fault in clearing land in Indonesia and causing fire. Apimi executive secretary Nor Hazlan Abdul Mutalib said open burning in oil palm plantations owned by Malaysian companies was carried out by local smallholders in the land allocated to them.

Yudhoyono apologises to Msia and Spore on haze

JAKARTA: Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has apologised to Malaysia and Singapore over the haze emanating from forest and peatland fires in Sumatra, which has affected air quality in the two countries. As the president, I apologise for what has happened and hope for understanding from our friends in Singapore and Malaysia, he told a news conference at the presidents office here Monday evening.

For sure, what has taken place is not on purpose, he said. Yudhoyono said at the moment, the areas affected by fires in Jambi, Bengkulu and Riau had been declared as districts under disaster emergency and the central government had deployed maximum manpower to fight the calamity. He said Indonesia was fully responsible for overcoming the problem and was confident that this would be done soon. Yudhoyono pledged that Indonesia would put out every spot of fire burning in Indonesian forests by carrying cloud seeding apart from mobilising fire-fighting personnel on land including from the armed forces. At the news conference, the Indonesian President also ticked off several government officials of the republic for mentioning the names of plantation companies believed to have started the fires which he said should not have been divulged. From what I monitor daily, there were statements made by some officials which according to me should not have been delivered as such, he said. He said the companies concerned involved had not been determined and government officials should refrain from issuing such statements. Even if the companies were negligent, it is not necessary to name themor the fact that they are owned by our neighbouring countries. What is more important now is to focus on overcoming the fire disaster that has dragged on for a week, he said. Bernama
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By Kevin Lim and John O'Callaghan

SINGAPORE | Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:24am EDT

(Reuters) - Haze from fires in Indonesia blanketing Singapore could persist for weeks or longer, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Thursday, as

the smoke drove air quality to "hazardous" levels and disrupted business and travel in the region.
Illegal burning of forests and other land on Indonesia's Sumatra island to clear space for palm oil plantations is a chronic problem during the June to September dry season. One Indonesian minister accused Singaporeans of acting like children, but pollution levels in the normally pristine city-state have shattered records set in 1997, raising diplomatic tensions and concerns about the economic impact. "It can easily last for several weeks and quite possibly longer until the dry season ends in Sumatra," Lee told a news conference, warning of action if Singapore-linked companies were behind the burning. "On the scale of it, it's unlikely to be just small stakeholders slashing and burning." On the fourth day of heavy smog, the smell of burned wood filled the air, skyscrapers were barely visible and haze hung in the tunnels that link Singapore's metro stations and shopping malls in the central core. Some residents wore surgical masks or covered their faces with hankerchiefs when they walked outside. Singapore will suffer "an immediate hit to tourism", investment bank Barclays Plc said, noting that retailers, hotels, restaurants, gaming and other tourism-related sectors make up about 5-6 percent of the city-state's economy. "We think arrivals will recover quickly when the haze dissipates," it said in a report. "But the situation is fluid - prolonged hazardous conditions could affect Singapore's international reputation." An Australian couple on holiday said they cancelled a visit to the zoo and would probably stay indoors. "I'm never coming back to Singapore at this time of the year again," said the husband, who identified himself only as Rob. Singapore, a major financial centre, sent officials to an emergency haze meeting in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. "We will insist on definitive action," Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said on his Facebook page. "No country or corporation has the right to pollute the air at the expense of Singaporeans' health and well-being." As Singapore put pressure on Jakarta to act, the Indonesian minister leading the response efforts hit back. "Singapore shouldn't be like children, in such a tizzy," Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono told reporters, adding the government was investigating whether large companies were behind the fires. "If there are, some are owned by Indonesians, Malaysians, Singaporeans," he said. "We will take action if they are found responsible. But there must be a process." To identify the culprits, Singapore has provided satellite data to Indonesia and will publish high-resolution photographs of the hotspots with the geographical coordinates to help interest groups such as Greenpeace pinpoint the sites. MCDONALD'S SUSPENDS DELIVERIES Singapore, which usually enjoys clear skies, saw its air quality deteriorate sharply on Monday. Its pollution standards index soared to a record of 371 at 1 p.m. on Thursday and then swung between the "very unhealthy" and "hazardous" levels. The pollution readings in Singapore have exceeded the peak of 226 hit in 1997 when smog from Indonesian fires disrupted shipping and air travel across Southeast Asia. In Malaysia, the southern state of Johor was the worst affected. Air quality in the coastal town of Muar worsened in the "hazardous" category, forcing 211 schools to close. Air traffic controllers in Singapore gave more time for aircraft between taking off and landing at Changi Airport, a major aviation hub, because of poor visibility. "It's disgusting, terrible," Dennis Wong, an information technology professional at a foreign bank, said as he smoked a cigarette in the business district. "It feels very uncomfortable when you walk on the street. Better to stay at home."

Work at several Singapore construction sites slowed with few workers seen outdoors. Fast-food operator McDonald's suspended its delivery service across the city-state. Singapore's drug stores have run short of face masks and residents have taken to social media to complain about their giant neighbor and the ineffectiveness of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to tackle the haze issue. Indonesia's Forestry Minister, Zulkifli Hasan, said there were more than 100 hotspots - 80 percent of them on agricultural and plantation land and the rest in forests. Singapore-based palm oil companies with land concessions in Indonesia include Wilmar International Ltd, Golden Agri-Resources Ltd and First Resources Ltd. All three said on Wednesday they had "zero burning" policies and used only mechanical means to clear land. Cargill, whose Asia-Pacific hub is in Singapore, said there were no fires on its plantations in South Sumatra and West Kalimantan. While companies may ban burning, those rules were hard for them and the central government to enforce with farmers and local officials, researcher Jackson Ewing told Reuters. "The lack of actual control on the ground is a real issue," said Ewing, a fellow at the Centre for NonTraditional Security Studies at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, who has done studies at the plantations. The small-scale farmers, he said, were often "contracted by corporate entities". (Additional reporting by Anshuman Daga and Jack Rogers in SINGAPORE, Rieke Rahadhiana and Jonathan Thatcher in JAKARTA and Siva Sithraputhran in KUALA LUMPUR; Editing by Ron Popeski)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/20/us-southeastasia-haze-idUSBRE95I0WW20130620