Indonesian
minister rebuts Singapore over comments on haze
JAKARTA: Indonesia’s Minister of the Environment and Forestry
Siti Nurbaya has issued a rebuttal over comments made by her
Singapore counterpart about forest fires in Indonesia, saying
Singapore should focus on its own role in combating transboundary
haze, instead of “making so many comments”.
In an interview with local environmental news website
foresthints.news on Saturday (Apr 16), Dr Nurbaya said the
Indonesian government has taken substantial steps to prevent land
and forest fires, and the ensuing haze that envelops the region
every year.
These steps are based on decisions made by the Indonesian
government, and not because of pressure from other countries,
including Singapore, she said.
“We have been consistent in sticking to our part of the bargain,
especially by attempting to prevent the recurrence of land and
forest fires and by consistently enforcing the law. So, my question
is – what has the Singaporean government done? I feel that they
should focus on their own role,” Dr Nurbaya was quoted as
saying.
On Friday, Singapore’s Minister for the Environment and Water
Resources Masagos Zulkifli spoke at the third Sustainable World
Resources dialogue in the city-state.
“Agro-forestry companies should take full responsibility for
fire prevention and mitigation in their concessions. There must not
be a repeat of last year’s fires, because the prolonged season of
dryness allowed fires to burn uncontrollably and in a very
widespread way,” Mr Masagos had said.
“Companies practising unsustainable production that affect us
with haze must know that their actions will not lead to
profitability and that they will have to face the consequences
sooner or later,” he said.
Dr Nurbaya told foresthints.news that Singapore needs to do its
own part in combating the haze.
“There is really no need to comment too much on the part
Indonesia is currently playing. However, with all due respect to my
Singaporean counterpart, what are they doing? And where has it got
them?” she was quoted as saying.
She said the Indonesian government has taken action against
companies – especially those headquartered in Singapore – found to
be negligent in handling land and forest fires that occur on their
concessions.
“This is just one example of how we are not shirking our
responsibilities and are doing what is expected of us,” she
said.
“We really appreciate the input provided to us by our
Singaporean neighbours and cherish our bilateral partnership, but I
would respectfully ask them to stop making so many comments,
particularly when it comes to the fires and haze-related issues. We
each have our own part to play and we should focus on carrying this
out.”
- CNA/cy