Friday, December 3, 2010
Published by Teoh Chye Shin
Pressure intensified on Indonesia to take action on the smoke haze blighting neighboring countries as Malaysia and Singapore invited regional ministers to discuss "urgent and long-term measures” to tackle the smoke haze problem.
Picture 1: Regional Haze Map
MALAYSIA- Over the past few days, the prevailing southwesterly to westerly winds carried in the smoke haze from the fires in Sumatra, Indonesia to its neighbors, Malaysia and Singapore. This illegal forest clearing in Sumatra are sending haze across the Malacca Strait to Malaysia and Singapore , has causing the worst air pollution since 2006. (Picture 1) The situation could worsen, as fires continue to burn in parts of Sumatra being cleared by farmers and prevailing winds blow more smoke this way.
In Malaysia, hazy conditions in several areas had also decreased visibility. In several areas in Malacca, Kuantan, Batu Pahat and Petaling Jaya, visibility declined to between 4 and 7 km. In Muar, a coastal town on the narrow strait that separates the two countries, pollution levels shot up to 432 which categorized as the hazardous range which begins at 301. As part of the measures to prevent the haze from adversely affecting the students' health, 204 schools in Muar were closed and thousands of masks were distributed to the residents as the hazardous level had reached a dangerous level.
On the other hand, air pollution in Singapore had reached the unhealthy levels due to smoke from the fires. Singapore had covered in a thick smoke this week and its air pollution index reading at 226 had hit the highest level since 2006.
Malaysia and Singapore offers to help Indonesia with haze problem
Malaysia and Singapore which is affected by the haze from the fires in Sumatra had decided to help Indonesia to control the haze problem. Malaysia has offered to help Indonesia curb the haze menace, which has affected the southern states of Johor and Malacca. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Kuala Lumpur was seeking “more cooperation” from Jakarta in tackling the haze problem. He said that Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah had also been in contact with his counterpart in Indonesia, seeking the latter's cooperation in addressing the haze problem.
“According to the reports we’ve received, the haze originates from there (Indonesia). We are not simply making accusation but we want action before the haze spreads and becomes more detrimental to Malaysia,” Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.
On the other hand, Singapore also stepped up the pressure on Indonesia to put out forest fires in Sumatra which is causing the severe air pollution and health problems in Malaysia and Singapore. Singapore’s Environment and Water Resources Minister, Yaacob Ibrahim reminded Indonesia to deal with the recurring problem of forest fires on the island of Sumatra after a bout of smoke haze covered Singapore and western Malaysia. Foreign Minister George Yeo also phoned his Indonesian counterpart Marty Natalegawa to express concern about the "worsening" situation and reiterate Singapore's "immediate readiness" to help put out the fires.
Air Pollutant Index Daily Reading provided by the Department of Environment (DOE)
You can also check for the PSI Health Advisories by National Environment Agency, Singapore Government and view the current and previous month 24-hr PSI Readings .
