Singapore has expressed appreciation for Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his administration’s efforts to address the recurring haze problem caused by forest fires in the region. Senior Minister K. Shanmugam, also the Coordinating Minister for National Security, spoke to reporters on October 19 about the steps taken by the Indonesian government to tackle the issue.

According to Shanmugam, Prabowo has shown a personal commitment to resolving the haze crisis, including issuing directives to ban slash-and-burn practices, particularly on peat land, which is highly susceptible to fires. The Indonesian president is prioritizing fire prevention as a long-term strategy to reduce the environmental and health impacts of the haze.

Moreover, Shanmugam noted a significant administrative change within Indonesia’s disaster management structure. On October 15, Suharyanto was replaced as head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, which oversees firefighting and disaster relief efforts, by Lieutenant-General Kristomei Sianturi from the Indonesian army. The replacement followed Suharyanto’s brother’s arrest over alleged corruption involving emergency relief funds, signaling a possible shift in governance and accountability within the agency.

“Some of these steps are quite unprecedented,” Shanmugam said, highlighting the new approach of Prabowo’s administration toward the haze problem. He also welcomed Indonesia’s approval of foreign assistance to help combat the fires, underscoring Singapore’s readiness to support these efforts.

Both Singapore and Malaysia have offered aid to Indonesia in firefighting efforts. Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan announced on October 7 that Prabowo had accepted Malaysia’s assistance. In parallel, Singapore’s Minister for Sustainable Development and the Environment, Grace Fu, confirmed on October 10 that she had been in contact with Indonesia’s Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat to offer support.

The haze, which has long affected neighboring countries due to forest fires largely linked to land clearing practices in Indonesia, remains an environmental and public health concern in Southeast Asia. Indonesia’s openness to foreign cooperation marks a notable development in the region’s ongoing efforts to manage and mitigate the recurring haze crisis.