<dl class="userinfo_extra"><dt>Join Date</dt> <dd>Oct 2007</dd><dt>Posts</dt> <dd>1,580</dd></dl>
[h=2]K. Shanmugam says haze beyond our control, don't use this to attack Govt & PAP[/h]
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law, K Shanmugam, has stressed that the reality of international law and international relations must be recognised.
He was responding to criticisms made by some members of the public who questioned why the government cannot do more about the haze situation.
In his Facebook post, Mr Shanmugam said every country is sovereign and Singapore cannot intervene in the actions in other countries.
He explained that in every field, Singapore's size and geography means that we are often price takers, not price makers in the areas of economics, geopolitics, or the environment.
The haze situation is quite outside the government's control as the burning of forests in happening in Indonesia.
Mr Shanmugam said Singapore has raised the matter with Indonesian Ministers.
Over several years, the government has offered technical assistance, expressed its deep distress at what is happening, and has also raised the issue internationally.
Despite these efforts, the haze problem recurs.
Mr Shanmugam thanked members of the public who have noted the reality of the situation, and the limitations within which the government operates.
He urged those who think the government can do more about the haze situation to tell them what can be done, rather than using this occasion to attack the government and the People's Action Party.
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