Indonesia's wildfire haze strains ties with Singapore and Malaysia

Smog from wildfires in the Indonesian regions of Kalimantan, Papua and Sumatra has spread over neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia in recent weeks, causing respiratory illness and headaches. It has also created a political dilemma for the governments of the three South East Asian countries, which must answer public frustration while avoiding damage to relations with Indonesia.

An unusually long episode

Wildfires occur in Indonesia every year and are widely linked to large-scale land clearing for crops such as oil palm. This year the fires have been especially hard to control because a strong El Niño has worsened drought in forests and peatlands. Earlier haze episodes in Singapore and Malaysia usually lasted a few days; this one has lasted weeks.

In Malaysia, residents began boycotting Indonesian goods, and lawmaker Syed Saddiq urged sanctions on companies tied to the fires. In Singapore, some feel the government failed to act decisively even though a severe El Niño had been forecast.

Exchange of words and gas exports

A senior Indonesian official said the fires were beyond human control and that oxygen in Singapore and Malaysia also comes from Indonesia's forests. Singaporean senior minister K Shanmugam called the remark "disappointing" and "not right", saying the haze seriously affects health. Days later Indonesia said it would reduce gas exports to Singapore, citing domestic energy needs. Singapore says the cut is under 2% of its daily demand and will have little effect on supply.

Malaysia's restrained approach

Malaysian foreign minister Mohamad Hasan ruled out a formal diplomatic protest or legal action, saying that would imply readiness to sever relations. Malaysia has agreed to explore a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia on fire prevention. It may also use the 2003 Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, which many experts regard as toothless because it cannot punish companies. Malaysia is itself a major palm oil producer, and in 2019 Indonesia blamed Malaysia for haze in the region.