INGAPORE — As thick, acrid smoke continues to blanket the island, pushing the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) into the “Very Unhealthy” range, the Singapore government announced it is gathering data and “keeping its options open” regarding potential legal action against commercial companies under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA).
Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu confirmed that the National Environment Agency (NEA) is actively tracking satellite imagery, wind trajectories, and fire hotspot data across Sumatra and Kalimantan. The move comes as Singapore experiences one of its most persistent haze episodes in recent years, driven by dry weather conditions and southeasterly winds carrying agricultural fire emissions into the city-state.
Clarifying the Law: Target is Companies, Not Foreign Governments
Amid rising public discussion, legal experts and officials emphasize that Singapore is not suing the Indonesian government. Under international law and diplomatic framework, sovereign states rarely enter courtroom litigation against one another over environmental issues.
Instead, Singapore’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act—enacted in 2014—is designed specifically to target commercial entities, land operators, and plantation companies (including parent groups headquartered locally or regionally) whose land-clearing burning activities contribute to unhealthy air quality in Singapore.
Under the law, if an entity is found guilty of causing or condoning fires that lead to transboundary haze pollution in Singapore, it can face fines of up to S$100,000 per day, capped at a maximum of S$2 million.
Environmental Groups Point to Regional Concessions
Pressure on regulatory authorities has intensified following a report published by environmental group Greenpeace, which identified around 20 plantation concessions in Indonesia linked to hotspot sources. The report noted that several of these concessions are affiliated with parent business groups based in Singapore and Malaysia.
While Greenpeace clarified that detecting hotspots on concession land does not automatically establish direct criminal liability, activists are urging authorities to leverage the THPA to hold corporate supply chains accountable.
Meanwhile, NEA noted that investigations into four Indonesian suppliers from a previous 2015 haze episode remain open under the Act, illustrating the complex, multi-jurisdictional challenges involved in gathering admissible cross-border evidence.
Immediate Ground Impact
While legal and administrative reviews proceed, the immediate impact on residents remains severe:
- Air Quality Readings: The 24-hour PSI surpassed the 200 threshold in western Singapore, while hourly PM2.5 concentrations reached “Very High” levels exceeding 250 µg/m³.
- Public Closures: Sport Singapore (SportSG) suspended outdoor programs and closed non-air-conditioned facilities across affected regional hubs, including Jurong East, Clementi, and Choa Chu Kang.
- Health Advisories: The Ministry of Health and NEA have advised vulnerable groups—including the elderly, children, and those with chronic heart or lung conditions—to avoid all outdoor exertion.
Government officials reiterated that Singapore remains ready to assist Indonesian firefighting efforts on the ground while maintaining rigorous monitoring under its statutory legal framework.