Syahganda's view does not reflect the view of the wider Indonesian government or public, said SM Shanmugam.
\n\nIt is "disappointing" that an Indonesian official said Singapore's oxygen comes from Indonesia's forests, especially against the backdrop of the current haze crisis in the region, Senior Minister K Shanmugam said on Oct. 19.
\n\nHe was referring to remarks made by Syahganda Nainggolan, head of Indonesia's Government Communications Agency, who said Indonesia's forests send oxygen to Singapore and Malaysia when there is no haze.
\n\n"We're not just sending over the haze. When there's no haze, we send oxygen. The oxygen from Singapore and Malaysia is from our forests, right?"
\n\nSyahganda also described the fires as "beyond human error" and a natural phenomenon.
\n\nSeparately, SM Shanmugam also praised the efforts taken by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to solve the haze problem.
\n\nDuring a media doorstop, SM Shanmugam acknowledged the impact of the current haze crisis on the health of Singaporeans.
\n\n"The haze is affecting our health seriously. Senior citizens, young children, those with illnesses particularly, but everyone else too, and it is really unacceptable."
\n\nAs such, it was "disappointing" that Syahganda had made such a comment, he said.
\n\n"Frankly, it is not right to…
Original source: https://mothership.sg/
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