Singapore is investigating which companies may be responsible for the forest and peatland fires in Indonesia behind the worsening regional haze, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Thursday, 15 October.
In a social media post, Mr Wong said Singapore will take action under its Transboundary Haze Pollution Act where warranted, and will explore joint action with other countries.
Law reaches beyond Singapore’s borders
The Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, which took effect in September 2014, allows authorities to pursue legal action against companies that cause or contribute to haze pollution in Singapore, even when their activities take place overseas.
Mr Wong said the extended dry period has made the haze situation worse. Singapore has offered its assistance to Indonesia and will keep working closely with Jakarta and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) partners to tackle the problem, he added.
Indonesia accepts foreign help
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Thursday approved foreign assistance to fight the forest and land fires that have deepened the regional haze crisis, according to local media reports citing Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir.
Worst air quality since 2015
Singapore’s air quality deteriorated sharply on Wednesday. The hourly PM2.5 reading in the west of the island hit 288 at 3pm, the highest level recorded in Singapore since 2015.
