Singapore denounced the statement "shocking" number of Indonesian officials related smog crisis when the city-state closed all schools and distributes protective face masks, Friday (25/09/2015). The closure of schools and the distribution of masks was an emergency measure after the air pollution index soared to a dangerous level.
Singapore has been shrouded in smog that comes from the burning of land in Sumatra and blown by the wind into the city-state for about three weeks. The haze condition this time was the worst since mid-2013 haze crisis hit the country almost every year during the dry season.
Closure of primary schools and secondary schools and kindergartens managed by the government because of the smog unprecedented, according to the Straits Times newspaper reported when the air quality index soared above 300, a level considered "dangerous".
When the pollution index rose, emotion rose, too. Singapore Foreign Minister K Shanmugam denounced some Indonesian officers who according to him had made improper comments on the matter.
"(Although Jakarta said it was taking steps to deal with it), at the same time, we heard some startling statement, at the level of senior officials, from Indonesia, who do not care about our people, and their own people," said Shanmugam in a Facebook post late on Thursday night.
"How is it that senior government officials issued a statement like that, regardless of their own people, or us, and without shame or sense of responsibility?" he said.
Shanmugam did not identify the officials who criticized. However, Vice President Jusuf Kalla has made a number of comments in recent weeks by repeating comments he made in March that the neighbor Indonesia should be grateful to improved air quality that they enjoyed during most of the year.
"For 11 months, they enjoy the clean air of Indonesia, and they never thanked us," Kalla said at the time.
Ari Dwipayana of the Communications Team Joko Widodo President refused to comment on the statement that Shanmugam. However, he said, the neighbors Indonesia Jakarta should also see an attempt to tackle the fire. "The President has stated that all forces have been deployed, we will be all out to extinguish the fire with water bombs and weather modification," he told AFP.
"The President also go directly to the affected area, and this shows how serious we are in addressing forest fires and haze," said Ari. He was referring to Joko Widodo visit to the areas affected by smoke haze in Kalimantan.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that the offices will remain open on Friday, but a face mask will be distributed at community centers across the island for the poor and elderly.
Lee said Singapore has offered assistance to Indonesia to extinguish the fire. "(We also) ask them to share about the identity of the company responsible in causing a fire."
Indonesian government previously said, a number of companies based in Singapore were among those responsible for the fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra.
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