Singapore, Indonesia to set up joint task force to hold firms accountable for forest fires

Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan (left) arriving for a meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Christiawan Nasir in Jakarta, on Oct 27.

ST PHOTO: HARIZ BAHARUDIN

Published Oct 27, 2026, 07:15 PM

Updated Oct 28, 2026, 12:56 AM

Singapore and Indonesia will set up a joint task force to hold companies accountable for forest fires and transboundary haze, with closer cooperation on enforcement and evidence.

The task force will share information, financial intelligence and cross-border evidence, and may help recover assets from firms linked to deliberate burning.

Both ministers said the move should deter future violations, while Indonesia stressed that people in Sumatra and Kalimantan are the first to suffer from the smoke.

JAKARTA – Singapore and Indonesia will establish a joint task force to hold companies accountable for forest fires, as both countries seek to strengthen cooperation against transboundary haze and tackle deliberate burning blamed for the blazes.

The proposed task force would facilitate information sharing, financial intelligence and cross-border evidence gathering, with the possibility of recovering assets linked to companies responsible for the fires.

The initiative was announced by Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir following talks with his Singapore counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan in Jakarta on Oct 27.

“We discussed establishing a joint task force on strengthening business responsibility,” Arrmanatha said at a joint press conference. “It will link information sharing, financial intelligence and cross-border evidence gathering, with, where possible, hopefully asset recovery.”

He said Singapore had offered to share data on firms linked to the fires, an offer Indonesia welcomed.

“Smoke can cross borders, so can money. That is why we must follow the money trail these companies have left behind,” he said. “No border should shield those who profit from burning our forests,” Arrmanatha added.

Speaking after Arrmanatha, Balakrishnan said he has shared with his counterpart how Singapore will take action against companies responsible for the haze, including those based in the Republic.

“We are going to exercise all, every single legal and regulatory power, and we are prepared to use an even wider range of legal, regulatory and economic measures to deter future violations by companies,” he said.

He said Singapore had agreed to Indonesia’s proposal to establish the joint task force, which would allow both countries to coordinate enforcement action and share information more closely to deter future violations.

“We are in effect putting all the companies on notice that the joint task force will ensure that there is a very close coordination of actions and sharing of information between Indonesia and Singapore. And we expect, therefore, the deterrence impact of this joint task force to make a difference.”

Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) has issued preventive-measures notices to 10 companies in Indonesia linked to fires suspected of contributing to the haze in the Republic.

Separately, the NEA has asked 10 Singapore-based companies to provide information and documents about their activities as part of investigations under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act.

The announcement comes amid renewed concerns over forest and land fires in Indonesia, which have sent thick haze across parts of South-east Asia and prompted calls for stronger action to prevent the problem from recurring.

Arrmanatha stressed that Indonesians were the first to suffer from the fires, particularly communities in Sumatra and Kalimantan. “The first victims of these fires are Indonesians. It is our farmers, our children and our families in Sumatra and Kalimantan who have to breathe the smoke first,” he said.

He said President Prabowo Subianto had made tackling the fires a national priority, with around 71,000 ground personnel and 51 aerial units mobilised across priority provinces.

Indonesia was also using water bombing and weather modification to contain the blazes, although severe El Nino conditions had complicated firefighting efforts, he added.

Arrmanatha said hundreds of individuals and more than 50 corporations had been investigated or prosecuted over the fires, with some already found guilty under Indonesian law.

Balakrishnan echoed his counterpart’s remarks, acknowledging that Indonesians bore the brunt of the fires.

“I completely agree with Pak Tata that, in fact, the first and the primary victims of the haze are Indonesian citizens, especially those in Kalimantan and in Sumatra,” he said.

He also acknowledged Indonesia’s firefighting efforts and paid tribute to the thousands of Indonesian firefighters and emergency personnel battling the blazes in dangerous conditions, describing them as “people literally on the front line”.

Close bilateral ties

Beyond the haze issue, both foreign ministers reaffirmed the strength of Singapore-Indonesia relations, stressing that differences between the neighbours should be addressed through open dialogue and mutual respect.

Their talks on Oct 27 marked their first official meeting as foreign ministers since Arrmanatha was appointed to the post on Oct 1, succeeding Sugiono in a Cabinet reshuffle.

“Indonesia and Singapore are more than just neighbours; we are partners in a shared future,” Arrmanatha said.

“Today, (the) Indonesia-Singapore relationship is mature enough to speak candidly, especially when we differ. What matters is not what we differ, but how we resolve our differences constructively, respectfully and openly,” he added.

He said both countries had agreed to establish a hotline at the ministerial and senior official levels to strengthen communication and help manage differences.

Balakrishnan described their discussions as fruitful and sincere, emphasising Singapore’s confidence in Indonesia’s future and the close links between the two countries. “We want Indonesia to succeed, and we want this because our futures are intertwined. Singapore’s success also depends on a prosperous, stable, peaceful Indonesia,” he said.

Both ministers also agreed to build on the outcomes of the Singapore-Indonesia Leaders’ Retreat in July, when Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and President Prabowo witnessed the signing of 26 agreements spanning economic, energy, defence, digital, environmental and other areas of cooperation.

The two countries are preparing to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations in 2027, when Singapore will also chair Asean. Arrmanatha pledged Indonesia’s support for Singapore’s chairmanship, while Balakrishnan said both countries would work closely to strengthen Asean’s unity and resilience.

Reflecting on the relationship, Balakrishnan acknowledged that neighbours would sometimes have differences, but said what mattered was how they understood those differences and overcame challenges together.

He cited the Indonesian proverb, “ berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing ” – meaning, “heavy burdens are shouldered together, light loads are carried together” – saying it reflected the spirit of mutual assistance and cooperation between the two countries, even in difficult times.

Hariz Baharudin is Indonesia correspondent at The Straits Times. He has an interest in Indonesia and the wider currents shaping South-east Asia.

Arlina Arshad is The Straits Times’ Indonesia bureau chief. She is a Singaporean who has been living and working in Indonesia as a journalist for more than 15 years.

Singapore-Indonesia ties

10月27日，外交部长维维安·巴拉克里希南（左）抵达雅加达，与印度尼西亚外交部长阿曼纳塔·克里斯蒂亚万·纳西尔举行会晤。

圣路易斯照片：哈里兹·巴哈鲁丁

发布于 2026 年 10 月 27 日下午 7:15

更新于2026年10月28日凌晨12:56

新加坡和印度尼西亚将成立联合工作组，追究企业对森林火灾和跨境烟霾的责任，并在执法和证据方面加强合作。

该工作组将共享信息、金融情报和跨境证据，并可能帮助从与蓄意纵火有关的公司追回资产。

两位部长均表示，此举应能阻止未来再次发生违规行为，而印尼方面则强调，苏门答腊岛和加里曼丹岛的人民首当其冲地遭受烟雾之苦。

雅加达——新加坡和印度尼西亚将成立联合工作组，追究企业对森林火灾的责任。两国寻求加强合作，共同应对跨境烟霾问题，并打击被指责造成火灾的蓄意纵火行为。

拟议的特别工作组将促进信息共享、金融情报和跨境证据收集，并有可能追回与造成火灾的公司有关的资产。

10月27日，印尼外交部长阿曼纳塔·纳西尔在雅加达与新加坡外长维文·巴拉克里希南会谈后宣布了这项倡议。

阿曼纳塔在联合新闻发布会上表示：“我们讨论了成立一个加强企业责任的联合工作组。该工作组将把信息共享、金融情报和跨境证据收集与可能情况下的资产追回联系起来。”

他说，新加坡已提出分享与火灾有关的公司的数据，印尼对此表示欢迎。

“烟雾可以跨越国界，金钱也可以。这就是为什么我们必须追踪这些公司留下的资金流向，”他说。“任何国界都不应该庇护那些靠焚烧森林牟利的人，”阿尔马纳塔补充道。

在阿曼纳塔之后，巴拉克里希南表示，他已与新加坡对口官员分享了新加坡将如何对造成雾霾的公司采取行动，包括那些总部设在新加坡的公司。

他说：“我们将动用一切法律和监管权力，并准备采取更广泛的法律、监管和经济措施来阻止企业未来的违规行为。”

他表示，新加坡已同意印尼提出的成立联合工作组的提议，这将使两国能够协调执法行动并更紧密地共享信息，以阻止未来的违法行为。

“我们实际上是在通知所有公司，联合工作组将确保印尼和新加坡之间密切协调行动并共享信息。因此，我们期望这个联合工作组的威慑作用能够发挥作用。”

新加坡国家环境局 (NEA) 已向印尼 10 家公司发出预防措施通知，这些公司与涉嫌造成新加坡雾霾的火灾有关。

另外，新加坡国家环境局已要求 10 家总部位于新加坡的公司提供有关其活动的信息和文件，作为根据《跨境烟霾污染法》进行调查的一部分。

此前，印尼的森林和土地火灾再次引发人们的担忧，这些火灾导致东南亚部分地区烟雾弥漫，并促使人们呼吁采取更有力的措施来防止此类问题再次发生。

阿曼纳塔强调，印尼民众首当其冲地遭受火灾之苦，尤其是苏门答腊和加里曼丹的民众。“这些火灾的首批受害者是印尼民众。苏门答腊和加里曼丹的农民、儿童和家庭首当其冲地吸入了浓烟。”他说道。

他说，普拉博沃·苏比安托总统已将扑灭火灾列为国家优先事项，在重点省份动员了约 71,000 名地面人员和 51 个空中单位。

他还补充说，印尼也采用了水弹轰炸和人为改变天气的方法来控制火势，但严重的厄尔尼诺现象使灭火工作变得更加复杂。

阿曼纳塔表示，已有数百名个人和 50 多家公司因纵火案受到调查或起诉，其中一些人已根据印尼法律被判有罪。

巴拉克里希南赞同了对方的观点，承认印尼人民首当其冲地遭受了火灾的打击。

“我完全同意塔塔先生的观点，事实上，雾霾的首要受害者是印尼公民，特别是加里曼丹岛和苏门答腊岛的印尼公民，”他说。

他还对印尼的灭火工作表示肯定，并向在危险条件下奋战的数千名印尼消防员和紧急救援人员致敬，称他们是“真正奋战在前线的人”。

紧密的双边关系

除了雾霾问题之外，两国外长重申了新加坡与印度尼西亚关系的牢固性，强调邻国之间的分歧应通过公开对话和相互尊重来解决。

10 月 27 日的会谈标志着自 10 月 1 日阿尔马纳塔接替苏吉奥诺出任外交部长以来，两人作为外交部长举行的首次正式会晤。

“印度尼西亚和新加坡不仅仅是邻国；我们是共创未来的伙伴，”阿曼纳塔说。

“如今，印尼和新加坡的关系已经足够成熟，可以坦诚交流，尤其是在意见不一致的时候。重要的不是我们之间的分歧是什么，而是我们如何以建设性、尊重和公开的方式解决分歧，”他补充道。

他表示，两国已同意设立部长级和高级官员级别的热线，以加强沟通并帮助化解分歧。

巴拉克里希南称双方会谈富有成效且真诚，并强调新加坡对印尼未来的信心以及两国之间的紧密联系。“我们希望印尼取得成功，因为我们的未来息息相关。新加坡的成功也取决于一个繁荣、稳定、和平的印尼。”他说道。

两位部长还同意在7月份新加坡-印尼领导人非正式会议上取得的成果基础上继续努力。当时，新加坡总理黄循财和印尼总统普拉博沃见证了26项协议的签署，涵盖经济、能源、国防、数字、环境和其他合作领域。

两国正准备在2027年庆祝建交60周年，届时新加坡还将担任东盟轮值主席国。阿曼纳塔承诺印尼将支持新加坡担任轮值主席国，而巴拉克里希南则表示，两国将密切合作，加强东盟的团结和韧性。

巴拉克里希南在反思这段关系时承认，邻里之间有时会有分歧，但他表示，重要的是他们如何理解这些分歧，并共同克服挑战。

他引用了印尼谚语“berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing”，意思是“重担一起分担，轻担一起搬运”，并表示这反映了两国即使在困难时期也互助合作的精神。

哈里兹·巴哈鲁丁是《海峡时报》驻印度尼西亚记者。他对印度尼西亚以及影响东南亚的更广泛趋势很感兴趣。

阿琳娜·阿尔沙德是《海峡时报》印尼分社社长。她是一名新加坡人，在印尼生活和工作超过15年，从事新闻工作。

新加坡与印度尼西亚的关系