"So, actually, what I want to say is that it should also have a fair outlook with regard to it (forest fire problem). The change (in the air pollution index in Singapore) is occurring hourly. It is frequently going up and down. What does it mean? It means that Indonesia has been making efforts (to extinguish the fires). We do not stay idle. Moreover, they said the government is shameless and irresponsible," the minister stated after speaking at a discussion on "Ecosystem management, hydrology and rehabilitation after peatland ecosystem fires," held here, Sunday.
Minister Nurbaya referred to a statement on Indonesia's forest fires posted by the Singaporean foreign minister on social media.
"What I want to say is that I hope he would have a wiser approach in viewing the problem since Indonesia has been working hard and is not staying idle. How many thousands of military and police personnel, among others, have been deployed by the president," she affirmed.
The minister pointed out that her office has also been monitoring the air pollution index in Singapore as part of its responsibility, and the government has been making serious efforts to extinguish the forest and plantation fires.
The ongoing haze from Sumatra's and Kalimantan's forest fires has affected the lives of millions across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore
The problem has drawn strong criticism from Singapore's Foreign and Law Minister K. Shanmugam, who expressed his discontent through a Facebook post on Thursday night, while referring to the "shocking statements made by senior-level officials from Indonesia, with a complete disregard for our people, and their own - PSI levels in parts of Indonesia are at almost two thousand (PSI above 350 is considered hazardous in Indonesia)."
"How is it possible for senior officials in the government to issue such statements without any regard for their people, or ours, and without any sense of embarrassment, or a sense of responsibility?" wrote the Singaporean minister. (WDY)
: I Gusti Bagus Widyantara
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