Singapore and Indonesia set up a task force to combat haze from illegal burning

Indonesia and Singapore have agreed to work together to tackle illegal land burning, which has caused a toxic haze across Southeast AsiaByEDNA TARIGAN Associated PressOctober 27, 2026, 10:06 AMJAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesia and Singapore agreed Tuesday to cooperate more closely to combat the illegal burning of land that has contributed to a toxic haze that has blanketed multiple cities across Southeast Asia in recent weeks.Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan met with Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir in Jakarta and said afterward that the two countries agreed to establish a task force to strengthen enforcement under existing regulatory powers, and to consider new ones.The haze comes primarily from western Indonesia where forest and peatland fires often are started to clear land for farming. While such fires are common during the dry season starting in April, this year’s are the worst on record, partly because of hotter and drier weather attributed to the El Niño weather pattern. “El Niño is a natural phenomenon, but the burning of the forest and land is caused by human actions," Balakrishnan said in a joint press statement. “We have a responsibility to ensu...