Debated in Parliament on 7 Jul 2014.
Mr Nicholas Fang asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources whether the recent weather patterns in Singapore have prompted a change in the Ministry's assessment of the potential return of transboundary haze this year.
Singapore is currently in the Southwest Monsoon season which typically extends from June to September. During this period, the weather is supposed to be generally dry and warm although there will be short-duration thundery showers on some days, and I am sure many Members of this House can attest to that. For the next few months, drier conditions are expected. If there is uncontrolled burning of peat land and forests in Sumatra or Kalimantan, the winds may bring transboundary haze to Singapore.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has indicated that there is a 60% likelihood of El Niño being established between June and August this year, and the probability may rise to 75%-80% for October to December this year. This means potentially an extended dry season with a higher risk of transboundary haze.
There has, unfortunately, been an escalation of hotspot activities and a corresponding onset of intermittent transboundary haze in Peninsular Malaysia in mid-June 2014. I saw this for myself when I drove from Ipoh back to Singapore two weeks ago. The number of hotspots in Sumatra, mostly in Riau, had increased to as high as 143 on 24 June 2014.
Indonesia will have to step up its fire prevention, mitigation and fire-fighting efforts. Singapore has offered our assistance to Indonesia to help them with their fire suppression. The Transboundary Haze Pollution Bill which I will be introducing shortly will also
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complement regional efforts to address this annual scourge. Any long-term solution to this perennial issue will require political will and effective cooperation amongst all the countries in the region.
NEA has been issuing daily haze forecasts since 16 June 2014 and we will continue to monitor the situation and update Singaporeans.
Apologies to the Minister for asking him to predict the weather. I think it has been proven historically that that is almost impossible to do. But given the unpredictability of the current situation, is there a need to reassess or change the way that Singaporeans are being advised to prepare for the haze in the months going forward?
I thank the Member for that supplementary question. I think after our experience last year, Singapore and Singaporeans are far better prepared if anything untoward were to occur this year. Singaporeans are aware that haze can come. It can arrive unpredictably and very quickly. Literally, it takes about six hours from the onset of the plume in Riau to be brought across the narrow straits to us. Masks have been distributed. In fact, Temasek Cares and SingPost have distributed masks to every household. In addition, over the last two weekends, we have been distributing WeCare packages, especially to low-income and needy families. So, they know that if the worst were to occur, preparations are in place.
Similarly, amongst the Civil Service, all the different agencies concerned, the Haze Task Force has met; all the plans are in place. We hope, of course, that they would not need to be activated but, if need be, we will do so.
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