‘It’s not right to say this’: Singapore senior minister rebukes Indonesian official’s ‘oxygen’ remark

On October 19, Singapore's Senior Minister K Shanmugam rebuked an Indonesian official for claiming that Singapore's oxygen comes from their forests. Shanmugam stated that this remark was "not right" while the region grapples with a haze crisis caused by companies breaching regulations in Indonesia. The coordinating minister for national security and minister for home affairs emphasized that the people suffering most from the haze were Indonesians themselves.

Shanmugam expressed the frustration of Singaporeans who were dealing with the worsening haze situation, which is affecting public health and entirely preventable. He reiterated Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's statement that Singapore would take legal action under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act against companies contributing to the haze. Shanmugam strongly rejected the notion that Singapore should tolerate the haze simply due to Indonesia's forests contributing to the region's air quality.

He pointed out that the haze was not a natural occurrence but a result of companies prioritizing profits. When asked about potential diplomatic implications of legal action against haze-contributing companies, Shanmugam defended Singapore's approach, stating that they could not afford to hold back while their people were suffering. He highlighted that the Indonesian public was also affected by the haze, and it was in Indonesia's interest to address the issue alongside Singapore.

Shanmugam noted that Singapore's actions against companies responsible for the fires aligned with the policies announced by the Indonesian administration under President Prabowo Subianto. He welcomed Indonesia's efforts to tackle the haze, including replacing the head of the firefighting and disaster relief agency, prohibiting slash-and-burn practices on peatland, and prioritizing fire prevention.

Shanmugam also appreciated President Prabowo's approval of foreign assistance to combat the fires, offering Singapore's support in the matter.