Singapore Tackles Indonesian Firms Over Forest Fires

Singapore has issued preventive notices to three more Indonesian companies in response to forest fires in Kalimantan province that may have contributed to cross-border smoke. This action under Singapore's Transboundary Haze Pollution Act brings the total number of targeted Indonesian companies to ten.

The National Environment Agency's notices require companies to deploy firefighting teams, stop ongoing burning, and submit action plans to prevent recurrence. The earlier seven companies targeted are involved in pulpwood supply and other agroforestry operations in Sumatra.

Forest and land fires in Indonesia have caused widespread haze, impacting Singapore, Malaysia, and other parts of Southeast Asia, leading to unhealthy air pollution levels. Between January and July, Indonesia recorded over 2,020 square kilometers of burned land, with estimates suggesting nearly 8,960 square kilometers burned by the end of August.

Singapore's Coordinating Minister for National Security, K. Shanmugam, emphasized that the smog is preventable and warned companies against evading responsibility, stating the government would use all legal levers to exert pressure.

He expressed disappointment over comments dismissing the crisis and welcomed Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's efforts to tackle fires, including accepting foreign assistance and prioritizing fire prevention.