Since 1972, Malaysia and Singapore suffered recurrent episodes of severe air pollution due to agricultural burning in Sumatra and Kalimantan, Indonesia.
[7] The Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA) has been utilized in several significant ways since its enactment in 2014: Issuance of Legal Notices: In 2015, the National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore issued legal notices to six Indonesian businesses suspected of causing fires on their lands, which contributed to the haze pollution in Singapore.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli highlighted this economic impact, emphasizing the importance of the THPA in mitigating such losses through preventive and punitive measures.
By targeting companies responsible for forest fires, the THPA helps protect the health and safety of Singapore’s residents from the adverse effects of air pollution.
The Act empowers Singapore to request information and take legal action independently, but collaboration with Indonesia remains vital for comprehensive enforcement.