SM Shanmugam calls Indonesian official's 'oxygen' remark 'disappointing', praises Prabowo's efforts to tackle haze

It is "disappointing" that an Indonesian official said Singapore's oxygen comes from Indonesia's forests, especially against the backdrop of the current haze crisis in the region, Senior Minister K Shanmugam said on Oct. 19.

He was referring to remarks made by Syahganda Nainggolan, head of Indonesia's Government Communications Agency, who said Indonesia's forests send oxygen to Singapore and Malaysia when there is no haze.

"We're not just sending over the haze. When there's no haze, we send oxygen. The oxygen from Singapore and Malaysia is from our forests, right?"

Syahganda also described the fires as "beyond human error" and a natural phenomenon.

Separately, SM Shanmugam also praised the efforts taken by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to solve the haze problem.

"Not right" for the official to make such a remark

During a media doorstop, SM Shanmugam acknowledged the impact of the current haze crisis on the health of Singaporeans.

"The haze is affecting our health seriously. Senior citizens, young children, those with illnesses particularly, but everyone else too, and it is really unacceptable."

As such, it was "disappointing" that Syahganda had made such a comment, he said.

"Frankly, it is not right to say this when this entire region is suffering as a result of the bad behaviour of companies breaching regulations in Indonesia, and the people suffering the most are Indonesians themselves," SM Shanmugam said.

However, he added that Syahganda's view does not reflect that of the wider Indonesian government or public.

Shanmugam added that it must be made clear where the responsibility for the haze lies.

"I have previously spoken about the haze situation in 2013, and again in 2015," he said. "I said this was not simply an act of nature, but a problem driven by companies pursuing profits."

Appreciative of Prabowo's efforts

Separately, SM Shanmugam said he appreciated the steps taken by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his administration to tackle the haze problem.

He noted that Prabowo had removed the head of the agency overseeing firefighting and disaster relief, and appointed a new one.

He added that Prabowo had personally expressed commitment to tackling the problem, as well as put in place directives prohibiting slash-and-burn practices on peatland.

The Indonesian president has also said he wants to prioritise fire prevention as a long-term solution, SM Shanmugam said.

"Some of these steps are quite unprecedented," he said. "They show what President Prabowo and his Administration's approach and thinking are."

Singapore welcomes Prabowo's approval of foreign assistance

He added that Singapore also welcomes President Prabowo's approval of foreign assistance to combat the fires.

"We, Singapore, have offered our assistance, and we will do our part to support," he said.

Earlier on Oct. 10, Environment Minister Grace Fu acknowledged that the current El Nino is producing "very dry weather" in the region, which makes forest fires a lot harder to put out.

She said Singapore is aware of Indonesia's efforts to do that, and "stand ready to assist" wherever they can.