Singapore Asks Indonesia To Name Firms Related To Haze-causing Fires

Singapore's Foreign Ministry has sent a formal request for the names of companies suspected of contributing to haze pollution to the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore, the ministry said on Wednesday.

The move was in response to a request by the Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar, who had said that if Singapore wanted the names of these companies to be officially sent to it, then this had to be done through the government-to-government channel.

"We look forward to an early response from the Government of the Republic of Indonesia on our requests so that we can take the necessary action against those who are responsible for the haze," the ministry said, adding that Singapore has also reiterated its haze assistance offer to Indonesia in the same note.

The offer includes one C-130 aircraft for cloud seeding operations, up to two C-130 aircraft to ferry a fire-fighting assistance team, high resolution satellite pictures and hotspot coordinates as well as one Chinook helicopter with one heli-bucket under-slung.

"Singapore stands ready to assist Indonesia in its haze combating and fire-fighting efforts," the ministry said.

Indonesia has launched a massive air operation, involving helicopters, planes and thousands of soldiers, to fight forest fire that has spread haze to Singapore and Malaysia.

(Xinhua)