Bilahari Kausikan questions Indonesia’s response to haze, says government can do more
SINGAPORE: In a social media post on Oct 11 (Sunday), the former diplomat and author Bilahari Kausikan commented on the government of Indonesia’s response to the current haze situation that is affecting not only its country but also Singapore and Malaysia, as well as the Philippines, Brunei, and Thailand. Mr Bilahari shared an article from Mothership which quoted Syahganda Nainggolan, who heads…
Former diplomat and author Bilahari Kausikan voiced his concerns over Indonesia's handling of the ongoing haze crisis, which is impacting not just Indonesia but also Singapore and Malaysia. In a social media post shared on October 11, Kausikan criticized the Indonesian government's stance on the matter, stating that the fires causing the transboundary haze are not just a natural phenomenon, but a man-made issue resulting from irresponsible forest clearance for large-scale agriculture.
He pointed out that historically, haze was a sporadic problem, but now it has evolved into a persistent issue. While acknowledging the influence of the current Super El Niño weather conditions, Kausikan maintained that the haze situation is primarily a result of human actions, including negligence, corruption, and administrative incompetence.
Kausikan also took issue with the government's claim that Indonesian forests provide oxygen to neighboring countries during non-haze periods, calling it an "absurd line" that reflects a sense of entitlement. He urged the Indonesian government to address the haze issue more seriously by raising the matter in international forums, as regional efforts alone are unlikely to yield significant results.
Written by urgent.news from The Independent Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
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