S’pore to explore joint action with other countries against haze-causing companies, says PM Wong
As the haze situation gets worse more than a month since it started, Singapore is looking into which companies are responsible for the fires in Indonesia that are causing the problem.
We may then take legal action under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in a Facebook post on Thursday (15 Oct) night.
Source: Steven Aw via CloudSpotting & SkySpotting Singapore on Facebook
Haze support available to those who need it
Mr Wong noted that the haze stems from forest and peatland fires in Indonesia and is exacerbated by the extended dry period of weather.
While Singapore cannot control the weather or the winds, nor can we directly control what happens beyond our borders, we “will do everything we can to protect Singaporeans”, he pledged.
Thus, the Government will ensure that support is available to those who need it, he said.
N95 masks are being distributed to vulnerable Singaporeans, and air-conditioned shelters are now available at Community Clubs and selected Residents’ Network (RN) and Residents’ Committee (RC) centres.
Source: Prime Minister’s Office via Lawrence Wong on Facebook
Legal action against haze-causing companies to be taken ‘where warranted’: PM Wong
Meanwhile, Singapore will also work with our neighbours to address the “underlying causes” of the haze, Mr Wong said.
After looking into the companies responsible, action may be taken under Singapore’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act “where warranted”.
The Act came into force in 2014 and allows legal action to be taken against companies responsible for causing or contributing to haze pollution in Singapore. This can be done even if the companies’ activities take place overseas.
Singapore will also explore joint action with other countries, the PM added.
Source: Lawrence Wong on Facebook
Earlier this month, environmental organisation Greenpeace found several Singapore-linked companies accused of involvement in the Indonesian wildfires.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday (14 Oct), Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said Singapore was keeping its options open on legal action against the companies involved.
The Republic is currently collecting and reviewing data on the haze, and is looking forward to discussing the issue at a regional level with its ASEAN counterparts.
S’pore’s assistance to Indonesia reportedly approved by Prabowo
Mr Wong noted that Singapore has offered assistance to Indonesia and will continue working closely with them and ASEAN partners over the issue.
Last Saturday (10 Oct), Ms Fu said Singapore stood ready to assist in putting out forest fires in Indonesia.
However, while not rejecting the offer outright, Indonesian officials had been equivocal about accepting it.
That is, until Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir said on Thursday night that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto had approved the use of foreign assistance to tackle the haze-causing fires, reported Channel NewsAsia (CNA).
PSI reading enters ‘very unhealthy’ range & scaling new peaks
The comments come as Singapore’s 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading entered the “very unhealthy” range for the first time this season on Wednesday night.
At 12 noon on Thursday, the PSI in the West region peaked at 212 — at the time a new high for the current haze season.
Source: www.haze.gov.sg
Not to be beaten, the PSI in the Central region climbed to 213 as of 3am on Friday (16 Oct) morning.
Source: www.haze.gov.sg
The “very unhealthy” range is a PSI of 201 to 300. If the PSI goes above 300, it will enter the “hazardous” range.
Meanwhile, the highest hourly PM2.5 reading so far this year was recorded in the West region at 3pm on Wednesday (14 Oct) — 288 µg/m3, in the “very high” range.
Source: www.haze.gov.sg
The “very high” range is anything above 251 µg/m3, while 56 to 150 is “elevated” and 151 to 250 is “high”.
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Featured image adapted from Lawrence Wong on Facebook and Steven Aw via CloudSpotting & SkySpotting Singapore on Facebook.
