Thanks to National Environment Agency of Singapore who provided us with the detailed PSI readings for the year 2006, we generated the above graph reflecting the average PSI for the whole year. Obviously October was the one with the highest PSI. The average PSI reading for October was almost twice as the average reading for the whole year. Such a devastating phenomenon was caused by the burning of trees by Indonesian farmers and the El Nino which coincided with the burning season. It explains why the haze always occurs during the September to October period.

On 7 October 2006, the 3-Hour PSI reading at 1000hrs read 130. At 10 pm, it moved to a new high for the year at 150 since 1997. This was the highest reading for the whole year.

Euston Quah, head of economics at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University told the Agence France Presse and TODAY Singapore of his “back-of-the-envelope, round figure” estimate of Singapore’s economic losses due to haze in October 2006 was USD 50 million. This was also the figure reported by economists in TODAY Singapore (a newspaper). These losses encompassed health care costs, loss in tourism earnings, loss in visibility and loss in recreation as well as economic losses. The severity and impact of the haze can be seen considering that losses were accounted for only the month of October.

As for our neighbour, Malaysia, it was reported in the 4 Oct Bernama – Malaysian National News Agency that the haze “has yet to affect the tourist industry.” Quoting from New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad, 10 October 2006, “The haze has caused much resentment and hardship among Malaysians.” Health Minister Datuk Sri Dr Chua Soi Lek also commented that “it also had implications on tourism and economic activities, such as hawking, night markets and outdoor activities.”

The haze caused similar problems in the two countries with visibility decreasing and haze levels pushing the limits. Also, large losses were incurred.