As haze returns to Singapore, is crisis ‘quietly accepted’ by Asean as inevitable?

A fire razes through a peatland field in Ogan Ilir, South Sumatra, Indonesia last July.

Photo: AP In recent weeks, Singaporean Cindy has been troubled by an odour lingering in the air during her evening walks to the gym. “It’s the same situation every year, but I would say that the fogginess and burning smell have been getting stronger for the last year or so,” said the 33-year-old resident who lives in the southern estate of Telok Blangah. “I have a baby, so it concerns me a lot, and I know many other families feel the same,” she said. “I always keep our windows closed, which is not very good for our health because we need fresh air.

But it’s impossible to get fresh air nowadays.” Singaporeans have reported a similar experience and haze sightings across the island in recent days, with many voicing health concerns.

Environmentalists have warned of worsening air quality, exacerbated by warmer temperatures, and urged the region to commit to finding solutions to combat transboundary haze.

In February, Singapore’s National Environmental Agency said smoke from nearby peatland and vegetation fires might be the cause of burning smells.

On Tuesday, the agency warned of a haze risk and confirmed that smoke plumes from hotspots in eastern Johor continued to drift towards Singapore.

Singapore’s skyline shrouded in haze as seen from Batam, Indonesia, in September 2023.

Photo: AFP Another resident, Eeleenz Liang, said she had been experiencing discomfort in her eyes, nose and throat.

The administrative executive, 42, said she was concerned about her health and higher electricity bills. “It’s been super hazy and smoky recently.

I have to constantly keep the air conditioner and air purifier [on] because we can’t open the window,” she said. “Every year we will face this same issue caused by Malaysia and Indonesia … Nothing can be done because it’s caused by our neighbouring countries.” The haze situation would likely become more volatile and frequent due to extreme weather patterns and rising temperatures, warned Tan-Soo Jie-Sheng, director of the Institute for Environment and Sustainability at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.

According to a climate report released on Monday by the Meteorological Service Singapore, the country recorded its hottest June and November last year.

At the regional level, rising temperatures would increase the likelihood of forest and peatland fires, and worsen the health effects of haze, Tan-Soo said. “When people are alread

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