Singapore angry haze to achieve the highest point

Through a Facebook account, Singapore's foreign minister criticized the statements of high officials in Indonesia. (AP)

Singapore expressed anger because thick haze blanketed the city-state so that the schools were closed.



On Friday morning (25/09), Air Pollution Standards Index reached 341 - the highest so far this year.

Singapore Foreign Minister K Shanmugam on Thursday evening stated that Indonesia showed behavior "strongly think about the safety of our citizens, and the citizens themselves."

Port of Singapore seen during and before the smog occurs. (Tim McDonald)

The haze caused by forest fires and land used to clear the land to be ready for planting oil palm and rubber.

The yearly problem causing pollution levels in the region continued to rise in recent weeks. Standard index in excess of 300 already includes a health hazard.

Indonesia has repeatedly said it has taken measures to prevent forest fires illegally. In addition to sending Agni Mangala extinguishing unit in Sumatra and Kalimantan, the government is also investigating 11 companies as a suspect incendiary forest and land.

But through a Facebook account, Shanmugam said, "We heard statements startle, at the level of senior officials from Indonesia," and said that in some parts of Indonesia, Pollution Standard Index has reached nearly 2,000.

Singapore distribute free masks for the elderly and vulnerable groups. (Reuters)

"How come, a senior administration official issued a statement like that, without the awareness of the community's life, or our citizens, and without shame, or sense of responsibility?"

Shanmugam did not mention the name of the officer, but Vice President Jusuf Kalla has angered some people because in the last few weeks saying that the neighboring countries of Indonesia should be grateful because 11 months have got clean air.

Indonesia and Singapore using the Air Pollution Standard Index or Pollutants Standards Index (PSI) for measuring air quality, while Malaysia using the index or Air Pollutants Air Pollution Index (API).

In two of the index, figures above 100 classified as unhealthy and above 300 including dangerous.

Delivery services disrupted

Singapore took the precautionary measure of emergency by closing all elementary and junior high school for the first time since smog occurs.

Indonesian officials, according to the foreign minister of Singapore, showed behavior that 'without shame or sense of responsibility'. (Reuters)

Free masks were also distributed in places of public services for the elderly and vulnerable groups.

Fast food delivery services, including McDonalds, KFC, and Pizza Hut paused on Thursday because they were concerned about the safety of the driver.

On Friday, the index fell below 300, and the service was running as usual. (bbc)