Indonesia’s Minister of the Environment tells Singapore to stop making so many comments about haze

Indonesia’s Minister of the Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar has straight up delivered a savage rebuttal to her Singaporean counterpart in the latest beef about the transboundary haze. 

The Indonesian minister basically told Singapore’s Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli to stop running his mouth and mind Singapore’s own damn business instead. 

At the third Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources last Friday, Masagos stated that agro-forestry companies should take full responsibility for fire prevention and mitigation in their concessions. He goes on to list down steps and suggestions to fix the issue to prevent the recurrence of last year’s forest fires. 

In an interview with foresthints.news however, Siti Nurbaya said that her government had indeed taken major steps aimed at preventing land and forest fires this year and the coming ones too — all based on decision by themselves, and not by outside pressure. 

“We have been consistent in sticking to our part of the bargain, especially by attempting to prevent the recurrence of land and forest fires and by consistently enforcing the law,” she maintains “So, my question is – what has the Singaporean government done? I feel that they should focus on their own role.” 

“There is really no need to comment too much on the part Indonesia is currently playing. However, with all due respect to my Singaporean counterpart, what are they doing? And where has it got them?” 

Sick burn. The Indonesian minister however said that though she welcomed input (and cherishes the bilateral partnership), it’d be best if Singapore stops “making so many comments, particularly when it comes to fires and haze-related issues”. 

She concludes by saying that Indonesia comprises a large and complex ecosystem — very much unlike Singapore’s small ecosystem. 

“The major policies we deliberate and enact are concerned with a major ecosystem in the form of the vast Indonesian archipelago,” she said. “We don’t exist in a small ecosystem. I really hope this is understood”.