Singapore minister rebukes Indonesian official over 'oxygen' haze comment

Singapore's Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam has responded sharply to comments made by an Indonesian official regarding the country's haze problem, describing the remarks as disappointing. The statement came as regional air quality concerns continue to affect Singapore and neighboring countries during the Southeast Asian dry season.

Shanmugam's rebuke targeted an Indonesian official's characterization of haze as "oxygen" for neighboring nations, a comment the Singapore minister deemed to trivialize the serious public health and environmental implications of transboundary smoke pollution. The haze, primarily caused by land-clearing fires and agricultural burning in Indonesia, has repeatedly forced schools to close and prompted health alerts across the region.

While critical of the official's stance, Shanmugam acknowledged the efforts of Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto in combating the haze crisis. Singapore's foreign ministry has consistently engaged with Indonesian counterparts on pollution control measures, emphasizing the need for coordinated regional action to prevent annual recurrence of severe air quality degradation.

The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between Singapore and Indonesia over haze management, a perennial irritant in bilateral relations. Both nations have pledged commitment to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, though implementation challenges and enforcement gaps persist.

Photo: Haze over Shenton Way in Singapore's central business district, 14 October 2026. ZKang123 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).