Be a good neighbour like Najib instead of criticising, says Indonesia VP
Indonesia Vice President Jusuf Kalla gesture during an interview in Jakarta, October 27, 2015. Photo: Reuters
Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla said other neighbouring countries should emulate the attitude of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who proposed measures to resolve the haze problem rather than simply criticising the country as Indonesia itself was struggling to end the crisis.
“Indonesia is thankful to Pak Najib and everyone, there is formal agreement at the ASEAN level on the (forest and estate) fires ... (and) if necessary to resolve the problems together, Indonesia is grateful for the joint efforts,” Mr Kalla said, referring to Mr Najib’s two-day visit to Indonesia earlier this month when he met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo to discuss the haze issue and to seek cooperation in the oil palm industry.
The Malaysian Prime Minister also made concrete suggestions to Indonesia on how to control the fires, such as building tube wells, which have served Malaysia well. Mr Widodo said he would send a team to study the wells in Malaysia.
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Forecast error, lack of govt action fan Indonesia fire woes
Indonesian soldiers spray water on a peat land fire near Palangkaraya, central Kalimantan, Indonesian October 28, 2015. Photo: Reuters
Indonesia’s weather agency failed to predict that the effects of the El Nino weather phenomenon this year would be worse than in 1997, a senior minister said today (Oct 28), as the government struggles to contain forest fires that have created a haze blanketing much of South-east Asia in recent months.
“I must admit there was a mistake in the BMKG (state weather agency) forecast that didn’t predict El Nino this year would be worse than 1997,” said Mr Luhut Panjaitan, the Coordinating Security Minister tasked by President Joko Widodo with overseeing the government’s response to the crisis.
“Our forecast was wrong.”
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Forecasters in Indonesia Underestimated How Much El Niño Would Worsen Massive Forest Fires
Indonesia's forecasters underestimated the El Niño weather event that has worsened the country's massive forest fires, which are blanketing Southeast Asia in a noxious, carbon-rich haze, a top government official said Wednesday.
"Our forecast was wrong," Luhut Panjaitan, the Cabinet minister managing Indonesia's response to the fires, told reporters.
El Niño, a periodic warming of the eastern Pacific Ocean, has fueled a drought across the island nation. That's made it harder to stop the fires that have been pumping huge quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, while shrouding much of the country and some of its neighbors in choking smog.
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INDON MINISTER: SPORE'S OFFER OF ONLY 1 PLANE TO FIGHT FIRES IS INSULTING
In an interview with Tempo magazine, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that Singapore’s offer of only "one aircraft" to fight the raging forest fires was "insulting" to Indonesia. He also defended Indonesia's lack of enthusiasm in putting out the fires and for its delay in accepting external help.
Luhut explained:
“During the dry season, peatlands tend to be very flammable. When we bombard the land with water to put out the flames, they just come out again. So I get a headache when people get upset. What are we supposed to do? Then someone asks why we didn’t accept the assistance offered earlier. There are many reasons for that. Firstly, we wanted to try and do it on our own. Secondly, we didn’t realise the process would be so long. Thirdly, Singapore offered only one aircraft. It was insulting.”
Mr Luhut's statements were in contradiction to that of Indonesian Cabinet Secretary Pramono who revealed in an interview with CNN Indonesia (7 October 2015) that Indonesia had rejected's Singapore's offers of assistance because it was worried that Singapore would claim credit for solving the forest fires and haze problems.
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Jakarta rejected earlier offers ‘over concerns S’pore would claim credit’
A wooden boat is seen on Air Sugihan river during haze shrouds in Ogan Komering Ilir, Indonesia's South Sumatra province, October 7, 2015 in this picture taken by Antara Foto. Photo: Reuters
Indonesian Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said that Jakarta had earlier rejected Singapore’s offers of assistance to combat the transboundary haze crisis in the region because it was concerned that the city state would claim credit for solving the problem, even while the officials were worried about the rapidly deteriorating situation.
“The (Indonesian) government is not closing ourselves off to assistance. But if we are assisted, the government does not want them (Singapore) to claim the credit. It is the government that is working hard to resolve (this smog disaster) … So we do not want it to reach the point of them claiming credit for it,” Mr Anung told CNN Indonesia yesterday (Oct 7).
According to Indonesian media reports, President Joko Widodo held an unscheduled closed-door meeting yesterday to discuss the haze problem, which has worsened this week.
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Jakarta rejected earlier offers ‘over concerns S’pore would claim credit’
Pramono Anung
Indonesian Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said that Jakarta had earlier rejected Singapore’s offers of assistance to combat the transboundary haze crisis in the region because it was concerned that the city state would claim credit for solving the problem, even while the officials were worried about the rapidly deteriorating situation.
“The (Indonesian) government is not closing ourselves off to assistance. But if we are assisted, the government does not want them (Singapore) to claim the credit. It is the government that is working hard to resolve (this smog disaster) … So we do not want it to reach the point of them claiming credit for it,” Mr Anung told CNN Indonesia yesterday (Oct 7).
According to Indonesian media reports, President Joko Widodo held an unscheduled closed-door meeting yesterday to discuss the haze problem, which has worsened this week.
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Singapore should help solve haze issue, not just talk about it: Indonesian V-P Jusuf Kalla
Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla said that Singapore should help solve haze issue, not just talk about it.PHOTO: AFP
The Indonesian government welcomes any country, including Singapore, that wants to help extinguish forest and land fires in the country to remove the haze, Vice-President Jusuf Kalla has said.
"Go ahead, we are open. Singapore can come and see for themselves if they want to help. Don't just talk (about it)," said Mr Kalla on Sunday (Sept 27) in New York, according to a report by the Antara news agency.
Singapore has previously expressed frustration with Indonesia regarding the smog that has affected the country and expressed its willingness help to battle the fires - offers that Indonesia has so far rejected.
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Indonesia provides “nice air” most of the time, and all you do is complain about the pollution
The neighbors just will not stop complaining. (Reuters/Beawiharta)
Every year during Indonesia’s six-month dry season, which lasts until around October, a noxious haze rises from the island of Sumatra. Generally lasting about a month at its worst, it’s so large that it hovers over an entire region, including Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.
The haze is caused by massive amounts of dense smoke coming from fires that are illegally set to cheaply burn trees or peat off the land—land that can be more profitably used for producing paper or palm oil. The haze regularly leads to school closures, canceled flights, and serious health problems.
Neighboring nations, of course, complain about this—not that Indonesia’s government officials much seem to mind. In March, Indonesian vice president Jusuf Kalla said:
“For 11 months, they enjoyed nice air from Indonesia and they never thanked us. They have suffered because of the haze for one month and they get upset.”
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Indonesia says Singapore acting 'like a child' over haze
Agung Laksono
Indonesia on Thursday accused Singapore of acting "like a child" over choking smog from forest fires in Sumatra that has triggered an environmental crisis, as the city-state's premier warned it could last weeks.
The escalation in tensions between tiny Singapore and its vast neighbour came as the levels of haze enveloping the island hit a new record high, shrouding the whole city, from residential blocks to tree-lined parks.
As the acrid smell of burnt wood crept into people's flats and medical masks sold out at drug stores, the city-state's environment chief demanded "decisive action" to address the crisis after talks with Indonesian officials in Jakarta.
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Indonesia Says Singapore 'Behaving Like a Child' Over Haze
Agung Laksono
The minister for people's welfare also said Jakarta would reject any offer of financial aid from Singapore unless it was a large amount.
"Unless (Singapore) wants to give us a large amount, we won't consider accepting it," he said. "If it is only half a million, or one million dollars, we don't need that. We would rather use our own national budget."
The comments came as the neighbours prepared to hold emergency talks in Jakarta to ease the severe smog enveloping the city-state.
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Dumbass Remark of the Week: "Unless Singapore wants to give us a large amount, we won't consider accepting it."
CNA: Indonesia chides Singapore over reactions on haze situation
Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono is this week's winner for Dumbass Remark of the Week. In a press conference, Mr Lakson accused Singaporeans of "behaving like a small child" over the haze.
The minister for people's welfare also said Jakarta would reject any offer of financial aid from Singapore unless it was a large amount.
"Unless (Singapore) wants to give us a large amount, we won't consider accepting it," he said. "If it is only half a million, or one million dollars, we don't need that. We would rather use our own national budget."
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Indonesia VP reiterates no need for apology over haze
Indonesia's Vice-President Jusuf Kalla has reiterated that Indonesia need not apologise to neighbouring countries over haze from forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan.
Indonesia only needs to ensure forest fires that cause haze do not recur, he was quoted as saying on Indonesian news site kompas.com.
"Look at how long they have enjoyed fresh air from our green environment and forests when there were no fires. Could be months. Are they grateful? But when forest fires occur, a month at the most, haze pollutes their regions. So why should there be an apology?" he said during a dialogue session with Indonesians in New York at the Indonesian Consulate-General on Thursday.
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Indonesia provides “nice air” most of the time, and all you do is complain about the pollution
Every year during Indonesia’s six-month dry season, which lasts until around October, a noxious haze rises from the island of Sumatra. Generally lasting about a month at its worst, it’s so large that it hovers over an entire region, including Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.
The haze is caused by massive amounts of dense smoke coming from fires that are illegally set to cheaply burn trees or peat off the land—land that can be more profitably used for producing paper or palm oil. The haze regularly leads to school closures, canceled flights, and serious health problems.
Neighboring nations, of course, complain about this—not that Indonesia’s government officials much seem to mind. In March, Indonesian vice president Jusuf Kalla said:
“For 11 months, they enjoyed nice air from Indonesia and they never thanked us. They have suffered because of the haze for one month and they get upset.”
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Indonesia's Vice-President Jusuf Kalla criticises neighbours for grumbling about haze
Neighbouring countries should be grateful for the clean air they enjoy for the rest of the year, said Mr Jusuf Kalla.PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Cabinets may change but Indonesian leaders remain touchy when it comes to the haze brought on by forest fires.
Yesterday, in an echo of seasons past, Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla rapped neighbouring countries for complaining about the haze, and asked them instead to be grateful for the clean air they enjoy for the rest of the year.
"For 11 months, they enjoyed nice air from Indonesia and they never thanked us," he said.
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This is not what the Indonesian nation wants, it is because of nature
Agung Laksono
Indonesia on Thursday accused Singapore of "behaving like a child" by complaining about severe haze from raging forest fires on Sumatra island that has cloaked the city-state.
"Singapore should not be behaving like a child and making all this noise," Agung Laksono, the minister who is coordinating Indonesia's response to the haze crisis, told reporters in Jakarta.
"This is not what the Indonesian nation wants, it is because of nature."
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Get Your Facts Right on Indonesia's Haze Problem
Why only one aircraft?
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related:
Haze: Offer of 1 aircraft "Insulting"
Haze: A Burning Issue For 4 Decades
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"Hazy" statements about the Haze