Singapore is stepping up its fight against the haze that has been clouding the city and neighboring countries. By targeting Indonesian firms, the government hopes to protect public health and everyday activities.

Under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, Singapore has now issued preventive‑measure notices to ten Indonesian companies. Seven agro‑forestry firms in Sumatra and three firms in Kalimantan – PT Buana Megatama Jaya, PT Mananjung Hayak and PT Baratama Putra Perkasa – are included.

The notices require each company to send firefighting crews to extinguish any fire on land they own or occupy, to stop any ongoing burning, to avoid starting new fires, and to submit detailed action plans. If the legal conditions are later met, the companies can be prosecuted and face financial penalties.

Forest and land fires in Indonesia have created a thick haze that now drifts over Singapore, Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia. Air quality has reached unhealthy or hazardous levels, forcing school closures and prompting public‑health warnings.

Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry recorded more than 2,020 km² of burned land between January and July, while the Nusantara Atlas project estimates that nearly 8,960 km² had burned by the end of August. The scale of the fires explains the persistent smog.

Coordinating Minister for National Security K. Shanmugam said the smog is “entirely preventable” and warned that Singapore will use every legal and financial lever to pressure companies, stressing that the problem is not just a natural disaster. The approach matches President Prabowo Subianto’s recent actions, such as replacing the head of the firefighting agency, issuing anti‑slash‑and‑burn directives on peatland, and prioritising fire prevention.