Singapore vows tougher stance on haze-causing firms with new laws

Singapore will pursue companies linked to haze pollution "for as long as it takes," Senior Minister K Shanmugam said, underlining the government's commitment to tackling the recurring air quality crisis that affects the region. The city-state is examining a comprehensive toolkit of enforcement options to pressure firms into adopting better environmental practices, Shanmugam indicated. "We are looking at regulatory, legal and economic levers," he said, signalling that multiple government agencies stand ready to take coordinated action. The government has not ruled out swift legislative changes. Shanmugam noted that Singapore could amend current laws or introduce fresh legislation "on an urgent basis to ensure further cooperation" from the firms involved in activities that generate haze. Such measures would underscore Singapore's determination to move beyond diplomatic channels alone and deploy binding legal instruments to protect public health from the seasonal haze that has periodically blanketed the island. The statement reflects mounting frustration with the persistence of transboundary air pollution despite existing regional cooperation frameworks and bilateral agreements with neighbouring countries.