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Singapore has set up an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate the nation's effort to deal with the impact of the haze resulting from forest fires in neighboring Indonesia, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Thursday.
The committee will be chaired by Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, with representatives from various ministries including the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.
It will concentrate on protecting public health and safety and working with Indonesia to reduce the haze at source. It will also review guidelines for protecting vulnerable groups and ensure that society and businesses, especially essential services, continue to operate.
It is expected to issue clear guidelines on the protective measures at each threshold as the pollutant standards index (PSI) rises.
The haze has been affecting Singapore since June 13 and is visibly serious starting from June 17 as hot spots increases in Sumatra, Indonesia, where the bushes and forests are often burned to clean the lands for agricultural purposes despite laws against such a practice.
The three-hour PSI reading soared to an unprecedented hazardous level of 371 around Thursday noon.
A reading above 100 indicates that the air is unhealthy, and it is very unhealthy if the index climbs to 200 or above. The air is considered hazardous if the PSI goes above 300.
The previous worst smog reading was 226 in 1997.
Singapore's National Environment Agency said the haze is expected to persist for a few days.
The Singapore government said it will a daily briefing on the haze situation and recommend protective measures for the day ahead, starting from Thursday. It will also a special scheme to help those who suffer from respiratory problems and conjunctivitis because of the haze to offset part of their bills.
The sale of masks have been soaring in the city state, with the National Environment Agency advising children, the elderly and those with heart or lung diseases to avoid outdoor activities. Others are also advised to limit prolonged or heavy outdoor activities.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore authorities have voiced their concerns with Indonesia and urged its neighbor to take tougher actions to reduce the haze.
Environment Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said on Wednesday that Singaporeans are "very frustrated, angry and distressed about the situation." Indonesia has tough laws against bush burning but has problems with the enforcement, he said.
Agung Laksono, Indonesia's minister coordinating response to the haze crisis, told reporters in Jakarta that "Singapore should not be behaving like a child and making all this noise."
"This is not what the Indonesian nation wants, it is because of nature," he said.
The comments came as the neighbors prepared to hold emergency talks in Jakarta to ease the severe smog enveloping the city-state.
Most of the schools in Singapore have cut their outdoor activities. Local supermarket chain NTUC FairPrice issued face masks to all of its pump attendants at its petrol stations.
