REACH (Telegram) 165 - What other support would you like to see from the Government to better protect Singaporeans and manage the impact of the current haze situation?

(SK)

19 Oct 2026 (10am - 7pm)

REACH (Telegram)

[19/10/2026 9:46 am] REACH Singapore: Dear contributors,

Welcome back! 😊

⏰ We will be opening the chat from 10am to 7pm today. ⏰

House Rules (short version of our Terms of Use) to keep in mind:

1. Be kind and respectful. We all want to be in a safe space to share our views. 

2. Any and all threatening, abusive, vulgar or racially, religiously and ethnically objectionable content is prohibited. 

3. Consider the quiet ones among us and give them a chance to comment. 

4. No need to repeat your comment or in different forms (including caps) - we heard you loud and clear the first time. 

5. Let's protect each other's privacy and keep contact details in this group what it should always be - confidential. 

Full set of Terms of Use: https://www.reach.gov.sg/Participate/reach-telegram-group/REACH-Telegram-Group-Chat-Terms-of-Use/

We will strive to uphold these rules to ensure this is a safe space for all. 

Please be assured that the points made by participants during the chat are aggregated and shared with relevant agencies. 

The topic will be posted shortly. 

Thank you. 

Megan 😊

[19/10/2026 10:01 am] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢

On Friday, October 16, the Haze Taskforce held a press conference about the worsening haze situation in Singapore. Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu warned that Singaporeans should be prepared for the haze to continue for some time, with the 24-hour PSI potentially crossing 300. To address this, the Government has announced various measures:

(1) Singapore will issue preventive measure notices to 7 companies in Indonesia under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, requiring companies to deploy firefighting personnel, stop or not start any burning activities on land they own or occupy, and submit to NEA their plans to extinguish fires and prevent them from recurring. Fines and charges could be considered as further steps.

(2) If the 24-hour PSI forecast for the next day reaches 300, MOE will consider closing schools and switching to home-based learning for students. O-level examinations could also be rescheduled. Kindergartens, preschools, and special education schools and student care centers will remain open for children whose parents are unable to make other childcare arrangements, and primary and secondary schools will remain physically open without running classes.

(3) Mask vending machines distributing free N95 masks to eligible Singaporeans have been deployed as of Friday night. The Government is also working with retailers to ensure that mask supplies remain sufficient, to preserve access for all Singaporeans.

(4) Platform workers should not face penalties (e.g. reduced job allocations or pay deductions) for taking longer to complete jobs during the haze. Platform operators have a responsibility to protect workers from haze-related health risks.

💬 What other support would you like to see from the Government to better protect Singaporeans and manage the impact of the current haze situation?

👉🏻 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/psi-could-go-over-300-before-haze-improves-once-inter-monsoon-period-starts-grace-fu

👉🏻 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/haze-key-takeaways-psi-air-quality-6465711

----

[19/10/2026 11:00 am] REACH Singapore: [ Poll : 1) I am concerned about the haze situation in Singapore. ]

- Strongly agree

- Agree

- Neutral

- Disagree

- Strongly disagree

[19/10/2026 11:00 am] REACH Singapore: [ Poll : 2) I am satisfied with the Government's response to the haze situation in Singapore. ]

- Strongly agree

- Agree

- Neutral

- Disagree

- Strongly disagree

[19/10/2026 11:01 am] REACH Singapore: Dear Contributors,

Please take a moment to participate in our polls and share your opinion. The poll questions are pinned for easy reference and your vote is anonymous. 

We look forward to hearing your thoughts on today’s topic!

💬 What other support would you like to see from the Government to better protect Singaporeans and manage the impact of the current haze situation?

Thank you.

Megan 😊

[19/10/2026 12:22 pm] RY in reply to REACH Singapore:

> 📢 Topic 📢  On Friday, October 16,...

My thoughts for today topics - 

1) ensure the mask availability in SG, so that people may buy 

2) laise closely with indonesia govt, where the haze is started eg educating the farmer

3) some financial assistance to those affected biz esp those out-door eg pasar malam 

4) protect those out-door workers eg construction/delivery guys n etc - ensure their employers also take care of workers health condition

5) penalise those ir-responsible biz that maybe involve in the haze crisis 

6) medical subsidy for those low income, when seeking treatment due to haze like b4 

Appreciate our govt for taking up the nec temp measures during every crisis

[19/10/2026 12:34 pm] Adam: Im doing my part to save the environment by returning my bcrs. Kpi met

[19/10/2026 12:40 pm] Adam in reply to RY:

> 4) protect those out-door workers eg construction/delivery guys n etc - ensure their employers also take care of workers health condition

No action will be taken. Gov need to make employers liable for employees medical fees if they dont have flexible work arrangements. Theres insurance for work injury. Can workers blame employers for haze related ailments long down the line? Just like asbestos, file a claim under the Work Injury Compensation Act or a negligence claim if they dont provide p100 mask.

[19/10/2026 12:41 pm] Adam: Imagine how many btos will be delayed if the worksite is deemed not safe with current ppe given. Gov is closing both eyes.

[19/10/2026 12:43 pm] Ahin: strike balance.... if the psi is high enough.... health is more important than BTO

[19/10/2026 12:53 pm] RY in reply to REACH Singapore:

> 📢 Topic 📢  On Friday, October 16,...

Additional - 

7) NEA may subsidise some cost for buying air purifier, similar to $400 climate voucher 

8) foreign workers (those outdoor) may get some subsidy when seeking medical treatment  

9) MOE may have to start preparing for any study-fm-home arrangement for students, esp now exam month 

10) MOH/NEA/MOE/MTI may have to work closely together to tackle this health/environment crisis, since biz also affected as people are encouraged to stay indoor

[19/10/2026 1:07 pm] Daniel: I found the following statement from Minister Lau to be quite tone deaf:

"When that runs out, employers are encouraged to be flexible and grant paid time off or allow employees to draw on the next year's annual leave in advance without affecting their wages."

I understand the need to close schools if the air is hazardous, but then telling parents that if they have not enough leave for that, they should just take next year's leave, illustrates well the reasons why (potential) parents are reluctant to have more children. Goes a bit against that whole raising the birth rate story.

That being said, there was other communications saying schools would stay physically open for kids who really need it, so I am not sure why it was communicated like this in the first place.

[19/10/2026 2:01 pm] REACH Singapore: 📢 Topic 📢

[19/10/2026 2:51 pm] LCL Danny 心 (1st HP): 

At noon, the PM2.5 readings stood at 33 in the north and south, 34 in the east, 44 in the west and 27 in the central region – all in the normal range.

[19/10/2026 2:51 pm] LCL Danny 心 (1st HP): 

South-south-east or south winds help limit smoke haze from Kalimantan from blowing into Singapore

, though some haze from Sumatra may still drift across.

[19/10/2026 2:52 pm] LCL Danny 心 (1st HP) in reply to LCL Danny 心 (1st HP):

> ‎⁨Look like the only alternative is to:-  1. Pray 2....

Longer-term Relief: Sustained relief is expected during the inter-monsoon period in late October or November when variable winds reduce regional smoke drift, or during the north-east monsoon when northern winds push the haze away.

[19/10/2026 3:03 pm] REACH Telegram Administrator: Dear Contributors,

Please take a moment to participate in our polls and share your opinion. The poll questions are pinned for easy reference and your vote is anonymous. 

We look forward to hearing your thoughts on today’s topic!

💬 What other support would you like to see from the Government to better protect Singaporeans and manage the impact of the current haze situation?

Thank you.

Megan 😊

[19/10/2026 3:20 pm] LCL Danny 心 (1st HP): 

What is the best long term relief so that haze won't come back year after years?

[19/10/2026 3:20 pm] LCL Danny 心 (1st HP): LCL Danny 心 (1st HP):

@Babe:436. I post in REACH (Telegram)[12/10/2026 1:00 pm] LCL Danny 心 (1st HP]:-

Also can the year after year haze problem be solved ?

Yes, almost except the momentum didn't go on.

It is not through law, through forceful means that will trigger political firestorm with another country.

But a skilful technical solution - known as the checker canal installation for all big and small plantations - will have stopped the haze once and for all.

It was proposed in 2012, the previous president pick it up the moment he was inaugurated in 2015.

Come out in big international news and in the UN climate report.

Haze didn't come on for many years (it is not coincidental).

But then momentum stops.

The department that oversee such projects was closed down.

1. New plantations come in, no momentum for checker canal plantations to be built.

2. Existing checker canal plantations lack maintenance, water dry up in the canals and not refill.

Haze return.

https://babe118.blogspot.com/2026/07/draft-social-media-post.html?m=0

[12/10/2026 1:03 pm] LCL Danny 心 (1st HP): 

What does the checker plantation canal do.

Draw inspiration from a checker chess board.

1. Build the whole plantation like a chess board.

2. The lines cutting across the plantations are canals to trap rain and water.

3. Fire on the plantations can be put out by water from the canals if fire engine water cannot reach the vast plantations.

4. If fire turn into peat fire that continue to smother, open up the flood gates from the canal to flood the plantations and put out the smothering peat fires.

5. The canals act as fire barriers that stop fire from strong winds to spread the forest fire.

6. During normal days, the water in the canal is used for irrigation to help the crops grow.

7. Dam rivers, create reservoirs to trap river water and rainwater during wet seasons to ensure local water table are consistently replenish at all seasons including dry seasons.

Also can design drainage systems to channel flood water into these reservoirs and checker canals as holding water areas.

@Babe:Can even propose water desalination plants to desalinate sea water finance by World Bank - whereby we bid and provide expertise or joint venture development as national projects (JV) - to ensure local water table are consistently maintain without dropping in water level during dry seasons.

Periodically release water to the interconnected checker canals.

8. It win praise by UN climate report and accord the praise to the ex president - of course the idea come from an anonymous social media post in Yahoo news.

But then yahoo stop the comment column.

9. Haze stop for many years.

[19/10/2026 3:21 pm] LCL Danny 心 (1st HP): ----

Straits Times Published Oct 15, 2026, 02:32 PM Updated Oct 15, 2026, 02:51 PM

Indonesia blames peatland degradation for raging fires, vows restoration | The Straits Times.

The government is aiming to drill wells to rewet peatlands and improve water canal management, Hanif said.

“It is quite simple, yet we have forgotten, neglected, or failed to carry it out,” he said.

 https://share.google/Vy3ORB339jZnp3ZWg

[19/10/2026 3:23 pm] LCL Danny 心 (1st HP): 

The Indonesia government has acknowledge that good canal management which serve them well for a few years has been forgotten and neglected.

Now their government vow to improve water canal management and rewet the peatlands - hopefully to resolve the haze year after year.

[19/10/2026 3:25 pm] LCL Danny 心 (1st HP): 

早知如此，何必当初呢？

[19/10/2026 3:32 pm] LCL Danny 心 (1st HP): 

Else the region currently won't have to rely on this helpless solution :-

"Look like the only alternative is to:-

1. Pray (拜天空，望天打褂) 

2. Hope monsoon rain and wind coming soon..."

[19/10/2026 3:55 pm] Jun Ming in reply to LCL Danny 心 (1st HP):

> ‎⁨The Indonesia government has acknowledge that good canal...

With corruption where is the check and balance

[19/10/2026 4:04 pm] LCL Danny 心 (1st HP): 

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSg659RKE/

Indonesia companies overwhelmingly form the companies contributing to haze.

Indonesia companies comprise 86%.

Singapore 7%.

Malaysia 7%.

How do Singapore and Malaysia companies contribute to such haze - being a fraction of the whole?

[19/10/2026 4:05 pm] LCL Danny 心 (1st HP) in reply to Jun Ming:

> ‎⁨With corruption where is the check and balance⁩

Not much we can do if it happens in a foreign country.

[19/10/2026 4:07 pm] Jun Ming: Like add pressure such as offering help and supervision. News outlets to report progress

[19/10/2026 4:08 pm] Daniel: I think we shouldn't underestimate the power we have as consumers. Add some labels to products that contain oil or lumber from peat areas or from identified companies would be a good start.

[19/10/2026 4:09 pm] LCL Danny 心 (1st HP) in reply to Jun Ming:

> ‎⁨Like add pressure such as offering help and supervision....

See how the ASEAN transboundary haze pollution control meeting goes.

Diplomacy don't reap immediate results.

It is slow and steady - then can reap results.

Strong pressure could trigger backlash.

[19/10/2026 4:22 pm] LCL Danny 心 (1st HP) in reply to LCL Danny 心 (1st HP):

> ‎⁨See how the ASEAN transboundary haze pollution control meeting...

Humans can only chew bit by bit and sink in bit by bit.

Cannot digest one big chunk.

Only when they see good outcomes bit by bit, we win trust.

Then in longer term, we see a good outcome.

If we go in forceful, you see people say we send you oxygen majority of the time.

[19/10/2026 4:31 pm] Daniel in reply to LCL Danny 心 (1st HP):

> ‎⁨Humans can only chew bit by bit and sink in bit by bit....

I feel like they have been going very slowly as you suggested since the last major haze occurrence in 2013 and 2015, yet we still get the oxygen comments, so not sure I fully agree with your assessment.

[19/10/2026 4:32 pm] LCL Danny 心 (1st HP): 

Previously is Jokowi Administration.

Now is a new administration Prawobo.

[19/10/2026 4:33 pm] Daniel: So that kind of goes against your whole argument that it will take time, because over time administrations will change inevitably.

[19/10/2026 4:34 pm] LCL Danny 心 (1st HP): 

At least, Prawobo administration acknowledge water canal management under Jokowi administration works, and is starting the project all over again with a new department with more teeth.

[19/10/2026 4:38 pm] LCL Danny 心 (1st HP): 

President Prabowo Subianto officially launched the National Peatland and Mangrove Management Agency (BPGMN), with the formal inauguration of its leadership taking place on October 15, 2026. 

Source:- Google Gemini AI

[19/10/2026 4:41 pm] LCL Danny 心 (1st HP): 

Source:- Google Gemini AI 

Key Details of the New Agency

Official Name: The National Peatland and Mangrove Management Agency, locally known as BPGMN (Badan Pengelola Gambut dan Mangrove Nasional). 

Leadership: Prabowo appointed academic and former forestry director general Prof. Satyawan Pudyatmoko as the Head of BPGMN, alongside Major General TNI Sriyanto as the Deputy Head. 

Structure & Authority: Unlike its predecessor (the BRGM, which was dissolved under the Ministry of Forestry in late 2024), the newly established BPGMN reports directly to the President. 

This independent status gives it broader executive authority to cross-cut ministries and enforce landscape regulations. 

Core Mission: The agency is staffed by scientists and professionals tasked with proactive fire prevention, early hotspot detection, and mapping. Its immediate priority is restoring moisture levels in degraded peatlands (rewetting through canal blocking) to prevent the recurring wildfires fueling the region's hazardous haze. 

Target Areas: Initial operations and budget allocations are prioritizing six major peat-heavy provinces: Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan. 

[19/10/2026 4:43 pm] LCL Danny 心 (1st HP) in reply to LCL Danny 心 (1st HP):

> ‎⁨Source:- Google Gemini AI   Key Details of the New Agency...

The key point :-

Its immediate priority is restoring moisture levels in degraded peatlands (rewetting through canal blocking) to prevent the recurring wildfires fueling the region's hazardous haze. 

----

This will effectively stop the haze year after year.

[19/10/2026 4:48 pm] LCL Danny 心 (1st HP) in reply to LCL Danny 心 (1st HP):

> ‎⁨The key point :-  Its immediate priority is restoring moisture...

If successful, all the hot and cold, labeling that drive up palm oil costs, soap cost, cooking oil cost, biofuel costs, litigation costs, oxygen words, animosity, finger pointing, etc....

Will effectively stop.

Go straight to the root cause, and stop it.

一针见血。(1-pointedness concentration).

弹无虚发。

Checkmate!

[19/10/2026 5:37 pm] REACH Telegram Administrator: Dear Contributors,

We want to HEAR MORE from you!

💬 What other support would you like to see from the Government to better protect Singaporeans and manage the impact of the current haze situation?

We have had good feedback from this group, and we hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active! 

Do also share your opinion by participating in our polls! The poll questions are pinned for easy reference, and your vote is anonymous.

Thank you!

Megan 😊

[19/10/2026 6:46 pm] REACH Telegram Administrator: Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

[19/10/2026 7:02 pm] REACH Telegram Administrator: Dear Contributors,

We will be closing the chat for today.

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

====

After note:-

Source:- Google Gemini AI 

Key Details of the New Agency

• Official Name: The National Peatland and Mangrove Management Agency, locally known as BPGMN (Badan Pengelola Gambut dan Mangrove Nasional). [1, 2]
• Leadership: Prabowo appointed academic and former forestry director general Prof. Satyawan Pudyatmoko as the Head of BPGMN, alongside Major General TNI Sriyanto as the Deputy Head. [1]
• Structure & Authority: Unlike its predecessor (the BRGM, which was dissolved under the Ministry of Forestry in late 2024), the newly established BPGMN reports directly to the President. This independent status gives it broader executive authority to cross-cut ministries and enforce landscape regulations. [1, 2, 3]
• Core Mission: The agency is staffed by scientists and professionals tasked with proactive fire prevention, early hotspot detection, and mapping. Its immediate priority is restoring moisture levels in degraded peatlands (rewetting through canal blocking) to prevent the recurring wildfires fueling the region's hazardous haze. [1, 2, 3, 4]
• Target Areas: Initial operations and budget allocations are prioritizing six major peat-heavy provinces: Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan. [1]

====

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSghEMD5T/

K Shanmugam - Singapore will use every levers to take actions against haze linked firms.

====