Singapore has offered aircraft to help Indonesia fight forest fires on Sumatra that have caused smog problems in Singapore and Malaysia each year. The fires are started illegally by farmers and loggers and Indonesia has failed to curb them despite promises. Singapore stands ready to assist with firefighting or cloud seeding if requested, but Indonesia appears to be trying to handle the fires itself for now. Nearby countries are concerned about the fires as Singapore prepares to host a Formula One race at night, when smog could be a problem.

1. S'pore offers help as Indonesia
again fails on fires
Posted on 14 September 2011 - 04:51pm
Last updated on 15 September 2011 - 07:41am
SINGAPORE (Sept 14, 2011): Singapore has offered to send aircraft to
help Indonesia put out forest fires that threaten to cast a pall over the
city-state's showcase Formula One night race next week, local media
reported on Wednesday.
Forest fires started illegally by farmers and logging companies on the
Indonesian island of Sumatra during the dry season cause smog over
Singapore and Malaysia each year, creating health problems.
Indonesia, the world's top palm oil producer, has repeatedly promised to
tackle the problem but the forest fires remain an annual event because
of poor law enforcement.
"We have a team on standby to help with putting out fires or even with
cloud seeding, as well as technical assistance. But really it depends on
whether the Indonesians request or require our assistance," Singapore
Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishan told
Channel NewsAsia.
He said Indonesian officials appeared to be trying to put out the fires
themselves.
Last year, the smog prompted Malaysia to alert vessels in the Malacca
Strait of poor visibility as short as two nautical miles and shut many
schools.
Malaysia has expressed its concern to Indonesia over 600 hot spots in
Sumatra, state news agency Bernama quoted Natural Resources and
Environment Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas as saying earlier
this week.
Singapore hosts the Formula One this month. Unlike most other legs of
the competition, the Singapore event takes place at night to cater for
European TV viewers.
Smog covered Singapore and parts of Malaysia over the weekend but
has since been blown away. In Indonesia, an airport at Jambi on
Sumatra remained partially closed because of the smog. – Reuters
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/143515