Congrats to Environment Minister Vivian for stopping the haze crisis less than 24 hours after flying to Jakarta! The skies are a azure blue and the PSI index is less than 100!
Well done Minister Vivian! You deserve a pay rise! And credit to PM Lee and his Ministers for saving the day!
Environment minister Vivian meets counterpart in Jakarta on haze problem
The Pollutant Standards Index in Singapore crossed the 400 mark at noon - a record high. It has since fallen.
"This is a situation that has never happened before. And our people are angry. They want to see action on the ground." But he added: "The relationship between Indonesia and Singapore is a strong relationship."
And the minister has said Indonesia is taking action on the ground, he noted.
Dr Balthasar said investigations are underway and as many as eight companies - foreign and local - may be involved.
Water bombing and cloud seeding action will also begin soon, he added. He also stressed the need for cooperation.
He will travel to Riau as early as tonight to join four ministers to coordinate efforts there. They are Coordinating welfare minister Agung Laksono, Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi, Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan and Agriculture Minister Suswono, he added.
Both Dr Balakrishnan and Dr Balthasar also agreed to bring forward a meeting of Asean environment ministers to tackle the issue.
Well done Minister Vivian! You deserve a pay rise! And credit to PM Lee and his Ministers for saving the day!
Environment minister Vivian meets counterpart in Jakarta on haze problem
The Pollutant Standards Index in Singapore crossed the 400 mark at noon - a record high. It has since fallen.
"This is a situation that has never happened before. And our people are angry. They want to see action on the ground." But he added: "The relationship between Indonesia and Singapore is a strong relationship."
And the minister has said Indonesia is taking action on the ground, he noted.
Dr Balthasar said investigations are underway and as many as eight companies - foreign and local - may be involved.
Water bombing and cloud seeding action will also begin soon, he added. He also stressed the need for cooperation.
He will travel to Riau as early as tonight to join four ministers to coordinate efforts there. They are Coordinating welfare minister Agung Laksono, Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi, Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan and Agriculture Minister Suswono, he added.
Both Dr Balakrishnan and Dr Balthasar also agreed to bring forward a meeting of Asean environment ministers to tackle the issue.
