Environment ministers from 5 ASEAN nations meet to discuss ‘haze pollution’

Environment ministers from Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand attends 15th sub-regional ministerial steering committee (MSC) on Transboundary Haze Pollution in Kuala Lumpur, July 17, 2013. (Photo : AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

A delegation from Singapore is scheduled to attend the 15th Meeting of the Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee (MSC) on Transboundary Haze Pollution in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Wednesday, aiming at enhanced cooperation on smoke haze problem, the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources said on Tuesday.

The delegation will be led by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan and Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Grace Fu.

The ministry said the “Ministerial-level MSC, comprising Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, oversees the implementation of enhanced measures to prevent smoke haze arising from land and forest fires in the five countries.”

The haze had been affecting Singapore since June 13 and is visibly serious starting from June 17 as hot spots increases in Sumatra, Indonesia, where the bushes and forests are often burned to clean the lands for agricultural purposes despite laws against such a practice.

The city-state has made efforts to tackle transboundary haze problem, including setting up an inter-ministerial committee, providing a daily briefing on the haze situation and recommending protective measures for the day ahead.

Indonesia's Enviroment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya looks on before start of the 15th sub-regional ministerial steering committee (MSC) on Transboundary Haze Pollution in Kuala Lumpur, July 17, 2013. (Photo : AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

The situation gets better these days with the PSI readings almost in the “good” range.

Minister Balakrishnan said earlier in the city-state’s parliament that Singapore will push for accurate land concession maps at the meeting in Kuala Lumpur. It will also seek to have MSC countries agreeing to a date for the public launch of the ASEAN Sub-Regional Haze Monitoring System platform that will enable the identification of errant companies.
The city-state will also push for the involvement of high-level officials from all relevant ministries and agencies from each country.

Balakrishnan also said Singapore will urge the Indonesia “to renew the collaboration” that they have successfully had in Jambi and in other provinces and to “ratify the ASEAN Transboundary Haze Pollution Agreement as soon as possible.” <Xinhua/NEWSis>