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No major progress on system to monitor haze

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN — As neighbouring countries continued to rebuff the Republic’s push to kick off the haze monitoring system that it had invested considerable time and money in, Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan yesterday expressed his frustration, following another meeting with his counterparts on the haze problem that failed to yield any significant breakthrough on that front.

The haze shrouded Singapore on Jun 17, 2013. TODAY file photo

The haze shrouded Singapore on Jun 17, 2013. TODAY file photo

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN — As neighbouring countries continued to rebuff the Republic’s push to kick off the haze monitoring system that it had invested considerable time and money in, Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan yesterday expressed his frustration, following another meeting with his counterparts on the haze problem that failed to yield any significant breakthrough on that front.

The unwillingness of countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia to share the land use and concession maps needed for the monitoring system to work was a key sticking point, he told the Singapore media.

“Quite frankly, I am disappointed with the lack of transparency; I think governments can and should do more. This is an area which precisely calls for more transparency and greater collaboration, so although they have not yet agreed to share the concession maps, nevertheless the issue remains live on the table and we will continue to push for it,” said Dr Balakrishnan, who revealed that negotiations were tough, with “contentious moments”.

While there was unanimous agreement that the transboundary haze problem needs to be solved, steps taken towards a solution were small and incremental, despite a warning that this year’s haze might be more severe, with meteorologists predicting drier weather and a likelihood of the phenomenon known as El Nino developing in the second half of this year.

While he acknowledged that Indonesia has made considerable efforts in the process of ratifying the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreement on transboundary haze pollution, Dr Balakrishnan said he was “frustrated with the very slow pace with which our counterparts are moving”.

Singapore began developing the haze monitoring system in 2012, investing S$100,000 in it.

Said Dr Balakrishnan: “It’s actually all ready, the only missing elements are the land use and concession maps. Unfortunately, some governments are unwilling or they say they are unable, for a variety of reasons, to publish those maps.”

He said Indonesia had explained that it is unable to share its concession maps now, as it has started trying to integrate and consolidate a single map from the many versions that are being used by various ministries.

“They have said that will take another two years or so to be completed ... I think two years is a very long time to wait. I don’t think we can afford to wait,” he said.

Dr Balakrishnan said Malaysian Minister of Natural Resources and Environment G Palanivel had said at a press conference that his country would not share all concession maps, but would share maps of hot spots causing the transboundary haze at a government-to-government level.

Adding that this offer was not made during the meeting among the ministers, Dr Balakrishnan said: “I hope I can hold him to that.”

He added that there was “a lot of to-ing and fro-ing” at the meeting over whether the countries wanted to keep the option of the monitoring system on the table or “whether they wanted to walk away from it”.

“I think the sense was that they don’t want to walk away from it, but nevertheless, there is still a lot of pushing and shoving that will have to go on to make the critical data of land use and concession maps available,” said Dr Balakrishnan.

Noting that Malaysians and Indonesians suffered during the latest bout of haze last month, Dr Balakrishnan reiterated that it is in all the countries’ interest to have greater collaboration and cooperation.

“It’s pointless to just engage in finger-pointing. If we just stopped at that and the meeting broke up at that level, we wouldn’t have achieved anything,” he said.

Dr Balakrishnan said he had asked Malaysia and Indonesia to share evidence and the names of firms that have engaged in illegal burning activities. This will come in useful when Singapore’s proposed law — tabled in Parliament in February — to deal with errant companies is passed, he said.

“I’ve offered to even go (to Indonesia) and have a seminar to explain the details, our principles and thinking behind this Bill ... I’m willing to make this extra effort because we have to demonstrate sincerity (and) collaborative action in practice. It’s no point just going on our own,” he said.

Meanwhile, efforts to renew the Singapore-Indonesia collaboration in Jambi to tackle forest fires are being finalised. Dr Balakrishnan said he is hoping for a conclusion before the end of the year.

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