Jakarta coordinates next steps as Singapore strengthens its cross-border haze enforcement framework.
Indonesia and Singapore have agreed to establish a Joint Task Force on Strengthening Business Responsibilities to improve cooperation on corporate accountability for forest and land fires and transboundary haze. The agreement was reached in Jakarta on 27 October 2026 by Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Arrmanatha Christiawan Nasir, and Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, with preparations discussed by Indonesian ministers on 3 November. The initiative aims to strengthen information sharing, financial intelligence exchange and cross-border evidence gathering to support efforts against companies found responsible for fires.
Foreign Minister Nasir said the proposed mechanism would focus on law enforcement against corporations proven to have triggered forest and land fires. He explained that cooperation could include exchanging corporate information, financial intelligence and evidence across national borders, with asset recovery identified as a possible longer-term objective. Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) confirmed that both ministers agreed to strengthen coordination and information sharing, including through a hotline between their ministries.
On 3 November, Foreign Minister Nasir chaired an interministerial coordination meeting in Jakarta involving Indonesia’s Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, Minister of Environment Jumhur Hidayat and representatives of the Ministry of Finance. The meeting addressed preparations for the Joint Task Force, including its working arrangements and scope, in accordance with the responsibilities of the participating ministries. It followed President Prabowo Subianto’s direction to strengthen coordination against irresponsible business practices contributing to forest and land fires.
The bilateral initiative coincides with changes to Singapore’s domestic legal framework. On 4 November, Singapore’s Parliament passed the Transboundary Haze Pollution (Amendment) Bill, strengthening the country’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA). The amendments increase the maximum fine for the main offence from S$2 million to S$20 million and introduce a civil penalty framework of up to S$10 million. They also expand investigative powers, enable restrictions on certain business dealings with designated entities and strengthen supply-chain assessment requirements for specified entities placed on notice.
Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA), the government agency responsible for environmental regulation, said the amendments would improve investigations and accountability for conduct contributing to transboundary haze. The revised framework also covers fires that pose a risk of haze pollution in Singapore, even before the haze reaches the country. However, a direction to appoint an independent assessor does not establish that a company has committed an offence; liability remains subject to the relevant legal process.
The Joint Task Force and Singapore’s amended legislation serve different but complementary purposes. Singapore’s law provides domestic enforcement mechanisms, while the bilateral initiative is intended to improve cooperation and information exchange between the two governments. Its effectiveness will depend on the implementation arrangements and the ability of both countries to coordinate evidence and enforcement within their respective legal jurisdictions.
Source: ANTARA News
