GPC Chairman says haze is intrusion into Singapore’s environment
GPC Chairman says haze is intrusion intoSingapore’s environment
8 November 2006
published by www.channelnewsasia.com
Singapore — Government Parliamentary Committees (GPC) Chairman forDefence and Foreign Affairs, Indranee Rajah, touched on the recent haze problem.
She urged the government to seek other diplomatic channels to resolve regionalissues, when ASEAN is unwilling to do so.
Recently at the United Nations, ASEAN countries were unable to provide aconsolidated statement on tackling the haze, so Singapore made its own stand.
Last week, an Indonesian minister boycotted an economic meeting involvingSingapore.
Ms Rajah said: “The haze is a problem. That is a fact. It’s a source ofgreat concern to Singaporeans and something needs to be done.
“I note that Indonesia had said that our raising the issue was tantamountto interference in the domestic affairs in Indonesia but I would have to say theannual haze problem constitutes an intrusion into the domestic environment ofSingapore, and that is something that we do have a concern about raising.”
