SINGAPORE – Efforts by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his administration to solve the haze problem, including approval of foreign assistance to combat the fires, have been welcomed by Singapore.
Speaking to reporters on Oct 19, Senior Minister K. Shanmugam said Prabowo has personally expressed commitment to tackling the haze, including putting in place directives to prohibit slash-and-burn practices on peat land.
He added that the Indonesian President also wants to prioritise fire prevention as a long-term solution.
Shanmugam, who is Coordinating Minister for National Security, noted that Prabowo had also removed Suharyanto as head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency in Indonesia, which oversees firefighting and disaster relief, replacing him with Kristomei Sianturi, a lieutenant-general in the Indonesian army.
Suharyanto was removed on Oct 15, a day after his younger brother was arrested over alleged corruption involving emergency relief funds.
Shanmugam said: “Some of these steps are quite unprecedented. They show what Prabowo and his administration’s approach and thinking are. We also welcome Prabowo’s approval of foreign assistance to combat the fires.
“We, Singapore, have offered our assistance, and we will do our part to support.”
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