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Jusuf Kalla slams S’pore, KL over haze

JAKARTA — Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla has denounced neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia for complaining about the severe haze caused every year by the nation’s forest fires.

JAKARTA — Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla has denounced neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia for complaining about the severe haze caused every year by the nation’s forest fires.

He said he had taken note of the way Jakarta’s neighbours had kept complaining when haze from adjacent areas in Indonesia fouled their air.

“For 11 months, they enjoyed nice air from Indonesia and never thanked us. They have suffered because of the haze for a month and they get upset,” Mr Kalla said yesterday.

Mr Kalla said Jakarta had repeatedly apologised. However, he has sparked controversy in the past when he claimed that foreign technology was to blame and other countries must share the responsibility.

“Somebody once told me Indonesia must restore its tropical forests and I told him, ‘Excuse me? What did you say? Do you know who damaged our forests?’” Mr Kalla added.

Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency said the potential economic losses from the fires and haze that took place during the emergency period from Feb 26 to April 4 last year were estimated at US$1.6 billion (S$2.18 billion). THE JAKARTA GLOBE

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