Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto have been in direct contact and have agreed at the political level to take whatever steps are needed to address problems between the two countries, the haze included, according to CNA.
Speaking to Singapore media during a three-day official visit to Jakarta, Dr Balakrishnan said contact had taken place between the two leaders at the highest level. He described it as a political commitment from both governments, adding that the task now is to carry out the plans and turn that commitment into action.
Dr Balakrishnan arrived in the Indonesian capital on Tuesday and was received by Mr Prabowo at the president's private residence in Hambalang, Bogor, on Wednesday. Indonesia's Cabinet Secretary, Teddy Indra Wijaya, said the closed-door meeting was arranged after Dr Balakrishnan requested it, CNA reported.
Why it matters
The haze has been a recurring source of friction between the neighbours, and the minister's remarks indicate that both governments now intend to move from statements of intent to concrete measures. The visit also produced institutional steps: a joint task force to coordinate investigations into companies that break the rules, with information and cross-border evidence to be shared, and a new hotline for handling disagreements on bilateral matters.
According to CNA, Indonesia's Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir said on Tuesday that dealing with the haze is a top national priority for Mr Prabowo. Dr Balakrishnan, asked by CNA about how the task force will be put together, said he could not provide details on its composition. He added that the senior-level backing from both countries should allow the work to be completed quickly and effectively.
Gas supplies and the value of contracts
The ministers also addressed the question of natural gas. On Oct 24, Indonesia began trimming gas exports to Singapore in order to keep more supply for its own electricity needs. Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Transition Bahlil Lahadalia said on Oct 26 that the reductions stay within the limits set by contract, CNA reported.
At a People's Action Party convention on Sunday, Mr Wong said Singapore expects every party that has signed a commercial gas supply contract to honour its commitments, and that the country's gas importer will take the steps required to defend its rights and interests.
Asked how the two sides found common ground on the contracts during his visit, Dr Balakrishnan said ministers from both countries share a commitment to upholding the integrity of agreements. He said all sides recognise why signatures and contractual duties carry weight, noting that this affects the credibility and competitiveness of both economies. He urged observers to judge by actions rather than words alone, and said contracts must carry real meaning and be respected.
The haze file has also drawn action from Singapore's regulators and law enforcement. Separately, AsiaOne reported that Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam told leaders of firms allegedly linked to the haze that the Singapore Government will do what is right. The Business Times reported that the Monetary Authority of Singapore has urged banks to limit exposure to, or end relationships with, clients responsible for clear environmental breaches connected to the haze. The Edge Singapore reported that RegCo has sent further queries to SGX-listed companies with links to the haze.
What to watch is how quickly the joint task force is staffed and begins sharing evidence, and whether the gas supply adjustments stay within contractual limits as Indonesian officials have said.
