The haze is back and I am reminded again of our government's strange and unexplainable reaction towards it last year, i.e. to hide API readings from the public, which is still in effect today.

The reason given by the authorities is that the 'bad' API reading is scaring foreign tourists away.

However, this reasoning doesn't hold water as foreign tourists are definitely not an ignorant lot. Most of them would have checked up on their destinations even before embarking on a trip. Besides, they are also exposed to cable television news where they can easily access news about the haze and the API readings. They can also find out about the haze situation from Singapore's Environment Department report (using PSI reading) which is available on the Net 24 hours daily.

Looks like the government will only manage to hide the API readings from the kampung folk, those who don't have access to either the Internet or cable TV as well as those who are literally living in the dark.