UPDATED 7.15pm, June 20, 2013
SINGAPORE — As the three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading soared to a new high of 371 at 1pm today, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that the Government will hold daily press briefings to update Singaporeans of the haze from today (June 20) onward and recommend protective measures for the day ahead.
Speaking at a press conference on the haze situation, Mr Lee said the Ministry of Health will also implement a special scheme where it will co-pay the General Practitioner’s bill for vulnerable groups who need help with medical expenses, if they suffer from respiratory problems and conjunctivitis because of the haze.
They include: Young Singaporeans aged 18 and above, elderly Singaporeans 65 and above, CHAS card holders, Public Assistance and Medical Fee Exemption Card holders.
Minister Ng Eng Hen, who was present at the press conference along with Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishan, will be chairing a Haze Inter-Ministerial Committee with representatives from various ministries.
The committee will focus on protecting public health and safety, working with the Indonesians to mitigate the haze at source, and maintaining economic and social resilience.
“Haze is not a new problem for Singapore and Malaysia, but this episode is more serious than in recent years,” Mr Lee said. “This afternoon the 3-hour PSI reached 371, a new high. The 24-hour PSI (at 2pm), which our health advisories are based on, was in the range of 175-207 – in the Unhealthy to Very Unhealthy range. We expect the wind and weather conditions to remain the same, and therefore the haze to persist.”
Mr Lee also said that he had written to Indonesian President Yudhoyono to register serious concerns and reiterate the Republic’s offer to help. Mr Lee also vowed to take action against any Singapore companies or companies in Singapore responsible for causing the fires in Sumatra.
Dr Ng said: “Like it or not, for haze to improve we are dependent on the Indonesian government. We must not let the haze overrun us. The haze will test our economic and social resilience.”
Dr Balakrishnan said that the Government will have to give more advice on appropriate precautions to deal with the haze. “The bottom-line is that no company has the right to pollute the air at the expense of Singaporeans’ health,” he added.
When asked about a tipping point for a stop-work order, Mr Lee said that there is no hard line where everything must stop. He also added that it is “not fruitful” to respond to Indonesian minister’s comment that Singapore is acting like a child over the current haze situation.
Addressing concerns over PSI readings, Mr Lee said, with a laugh, “We don’t play these kind of games in Singapore.”
He noted that the NEA publishes the 3-hour average PSI: “It may be better than what you see outside window or worse than what you see.”
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