SINGAPORE – Singapore appealed to Indonesia on Wednesday for information on companies suspected of causing cross-border pollution, saying stopping smoke from fires set by plantation firms was not an issue of “sovereignty”.

Fires in Indonesia, often set in the dry season by companies clearing land for plantations, causes an annual “haze” crisis over large parts of the region. Indonesia has often promised action but the problem persists.

Singapore passed a cross-border haze act in 2014, making those who cause haze both criminally and civilly liable, but it has been having trouble getting information.

“Singapore has repeatedly asked for the information on companies suspected of illegal burning in Indonesia from the relevant Indonesian authorities. We have yet to receive any information,” Singapore’s ministry of environment and water resources said in a statement.

Indonesia’s environment and forestry minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said this week Singapore could not “tread on the realm of law that was under Indonesia”, and Singapore “did not respect Indonesia”, media reported.

Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla was also quoted as saying that Indonesia would not allow Singapore to prosecute its citizens over forest fires that blanketed the region in toxic smoke.

Singapore said its law complied with international law to “deter and prosecute entities that are responsible for transboundary haze pollution in Singapore, whether Singaporean or foreign, as well as persons holding positions of responsibility in these entities”.

“It is not directed at any individual nor company based on nationality. This is therefore not an issue of sovereignty or national dignity,” the ministry said.

Singapore’s National Environment Agency had summoned the director of Indonesian company suspected of pollution but he failed to turn up for an interview.

Last month, the agency got a court warrant to secure his attendance when he next enters Singapore.

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Reuters, AFP, The Straits Times, Berita Harian

AFTER working in the IT industry for 30 years, 66-year-old Shum San Wah decided on a late-career switch to cooking instead.

He now plies his new trade in several restaurants in Resorts World Singapore, and is one of the first aspiring chefs to benefit from the culinary programmes offered at Nanyang Polytechnic’s new Asian Culinary Institute (ACI) in Paya Lebar.

Accredited by the Workforce Development Agency (WDA), the cooking school, officially launched yesterday, provides tailored courses for those interested in getting a taste of the food and beverage (F&B) services industry.

Set up in April 2015, the first culinary institute dedicated to Asian cuisine in Singapore offers programmes pitched at varying levels of experience and aptitudes, from one-day workshops for learning the recipes of salted egg doughnuts to full specialist diplomas.

“Given our reputation as one of Asia Pacific’s gourmet capitals, it is crucial we adopt measures to attract, develop and retain talent within the industry,” said guest of honour Low Yen Ling, Parliamentary Secretary for the ministries of Education and Trade and Industry.

The new training school marks the latest effort to breathe new life into an ailing industry plagued by a shortage of local talent and a rapidly ageing workforce.

ACI is collaborating with 11 F&B and hospitality organisations – including Pan Pacific Hotel and Neo Group – to provide new entrants with work attachment opportunities and existing staff with skills upgrading courses.

In addition, it has roped in celebrity chefs such as Eric Teo, president mentor at Singapore Chefs’ Association, who will trade their spatulas for chalkboards to mentor an estimated 24 to 48 polytechnic and ITE fresh graduates each year.

“The on-the-job training exposes them to the language used in the kitchen so that when they start work, they will already know what is expected of them,” said Mr Teo.

Also at the event yesterday was Kenji Shinoda, Ambassador of Japan to Singapore, who lauded a memorandum of understanding between ACI and Japan Food Town Development to teach Japanese cuisine at ACI.

He said to cheers: “I’m proud that Japanese cuisine is so popular here in Singapore. Let us take it to the next level.”

clementy@sph.com.sg

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THE two candidates who contested the May 7 Bukit Batok by-election spent about $169,290 altogether on election expenses, with Singapore Democratic Party chief Chee Soon Juan spending more than the winning candidate Murali Pillai from the People’s Action Party.

Dr Chee spent about $3.39 per voter while Mr Murali spent about $3.19 per voter.

In all, Dr Chee spent $87,200.42, of which the bulk – at least $38,279.93 – went to printing and distributing campaign materials such as posters and newsletters.

Singaporeans vote in Bukit Batok by-election

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The Straits Times, AsiaOne, MediaCorp, Parliament of Singapore

Another of his big ticket items was the cost of holding four rallies. It came up to at least $35,226.60.

Mr Murali’s bills totalled $82,091.

Like Dr Chee, his rally logistics cost the most, totalling $28,590, while his expenses on campaign materials added up to $27,331.42.

Bukit Batok by-election rally May 3

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AsiaOne, YouTube screengrabs

Both candidates’ bills were within the $102,908 legal limit, or $4 for each of the 25,747 registered Bukit Batok voters.

The law requires candidates to submit their election expenses to the Elections Department after the polls.

Besides election expenses, the candidates also had to declare the donations they received.

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The Straits Times, Berita Harian, Shin Min Daily News

Mr Pillai said he received $82,091 from the PAP headquarters, a sum that covered all his election expenses.

Dr Chee said he did not receive any donations.

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