Numerous fires in Sumatra’s jungles blew over the Malaysian Peninsula for a week. They affected particularly Singapore which had to support blanketed skies during many hours every day.
SINGAPORE – Haze has been back all last week in Singapore, the worst episode of this kind since the massive smog crisis from 1997 which totally blanketed the region. The cause is well known: every year, farmers in the neighbouring Indonesian island of Sumatra light up fires to clear the land for new plantations, in most cases palm oil. Massive uncontrolled fires generate smoke which then is blown by wind into Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. The Indonesian government seems to have little influence over the farmers or companies producing palm oil which need more space to grow palm trees.
Singapore is particularly affected by the fire. Singapore’s smog index hit the critical 400 level on Friday, which means that it becomes potentially life-threatening to the ill and elderly people. But the consequence of haze in Singapore has not to be only seen from a health perspective.
It first tarnishes the reputation of this city, praised as one of the cleanest in Asia and one of the less polluted. Secondly, Singapore will suffer from cancellations from travellers. Tourism is one of Singapore’s main economic pillar as it generates high spending into most of the city’s infrastructure and services. Finally, the image of the metropolis could be for a long time be affected. Pictures of the reporter of BBC World, based in Singapore, showed the city skyline into the fog, during hours. Business was also affected as the smell of burned wood was even felt inside air-con offices.
But there is little to be done beyond expressing anger and indignation to Indonesia. The latter finally sent on Saturday planes to waterbomb raging fires in Sumatra forests and helped the level of hazardous smog to recede significantly. On Sunday night, the official air quality index in the city centre stood at 156 against 326 a few days before. However, at 156, it is still considered as hazardous for health for sensitive groups.
Tourism activities have been forced to adapt to these terrible conditions. The Singapore Flyer Ferris wheel had to close down while most outdoor shows such as the ones in Universal Studios had also to be cancelled. It is now estimated that the smog over Singapore could shave out half a percentage point of GDP growth over the year.
While skies cleared up on Sunday, many experts estimate that smog is likely to come back as massive fires continue to affect Sumatra and will not be cleared before the rainy season… expected by September. Haze continued to affect however Malaysian State of Johor Bahru where a state of emergency was declared for two districts.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
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