Singapore and Indonesia have announced the creation of a joint task force to enhance accountability for forest fires, a move aimed at mitigating the persistent transboundary haze affecting Southeast Asia. The decision came after a meeting between Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir and Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in Jakarta on October 27.
The task force will focus on sharing information, financial intelligence, cross-border evidence gathering, and potentially recovering assets from companies implicated in causing the fires. This collaboration seeks to strengthen enforcement against businesses suspected of using fire to clear land, a practice that has had severe environmental and health impacts across the region.
Singapore has offered to share information about companies linked to the fires, which Indonesia has embraced. Balakrishnan emphasized Singapore’s readiness to employ legal and regulatory measures, along with economic sanctions if necessary, to deter companies from contributing to the haze. Under Singapore’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, notices have already been issued to companies in Indonesia suspected of contributing to the pollution, and information has been requested from Singapore-based firms.
The recurring forest and land fires in Indonesia have severely affected air quality, prompting the deployment of approximately 71,000 ground personnel and 51 aerial units in key provinces for firefighting efforts. Indonesian authorities have also pursued legal action against hundreds of individuals and over 50 companies for fire-related offenses.
Both foreign ministers acknowledged the significant impact of these fires on Indonesian communities, particularly in Sumatra and Kalimantan, and stressed the importance of holding businesses accountable. They also highlighted the broader objective of strengthening bilateral relations through open dialogue and closer coordination.
In addition to environmental cooperation, Singapore and Indonesia are preparing to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations in 2027. The countries also committed to enhancing regional cooperation and bolstering the unity and resilience of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).