Shanmugam criticises Indonesian official's haze remarks, backs Prabowo

Singapore's Senior Minister K Shanmugam on Monday rejected characterisations of the regional haze as an inevitable natural phenomenon, instead asserting that the issue is fundamentally driven by commercial interests prioritising profit over environmental responsibility. His comments came in response to remarks from an Indonesian official that Shanmugam found unsatisfactory in addressing the underlying causes of the transboundary smoke and air quality crisis that regularly affects Singapore and the wider region. Despite criticism of the official's position, Shanmugam expressed appreciation for concrete steps being taken by Indonesia's new administration under President Prabowo Subianto to tackle the problem. The acknowledgement suggests a constructive diplomatic approach, with Singapore seeking partnership from Indonesia's leadership on environmental governance. The transboundary haze, which typically peaks during the dry season, has long been attributed to forest fires and land-clearing activities in Sumatra and Kalimantan, practices often linked to agricultural and industrial expansion.