Singapore braces as Indonesia slaps back at neighbours amid haze, political woes

He said the gas cuts were due to domestic supply considerations and only “coincided ​with a seemingly tense situation.”

PROTESTS AND PRESSURE

Prabowo has pushed ‌back against international criticism, including a downgrade threat from global index provider MSCI, which has sent Indonesia’s markets into turmoil.

One former Indonesian ⁠official blamed Singapore sovereign wealth ​funds for having a role in the MSCI pressure, but offered no evidence,with the accusation amplified by social media accounts that were “liked” by prominent government figures. The funds denied any involvement.

Yohanes said the MSCI downgrade threat compounded problems forPrabowo’s administration after the fires, as well as food poisoning and corruption issues at a signaturefree lunch programme.

Prabowo’s popularity has fallen ⁠sharply, with his approval rating reaching 44.5% this month according to one survey, from 81.2% ​late last year.

Protests occurred in several Indonesian cities this week over his government’s response to the fires.

The latest tensions mirror previous episodes where Indonesia has criticised external forces such as Singapore, Malaysia and the West during periods of domestic strife.

Singapore, roughly the size of New York City and with a 6.2 million population, was in ⁠1998 disparaged by Indonesia’s president at the time as a “little red dot” that was not a friend when talking about the Asian Financial Crisis.

In the 1960s, there was outright violence when Indonesian President Sukarno launched a campaign that resulted in 42 bombing attempts in Singapore during a period called the “konfrontasi”, whileIndonesia faced hyperinflation and instability at home.

‘STORM IN A TEACUP’

Current and former officials from both countries sought to calm the waters this week.

“Differences are to be expected,” Singapore’s foreign minister ​Vivian Balakrishnan told media on Wednesday. “Even polemic statements sometimes, from time to time,” he said.

Suryo Pratomo, a former ⁠Indonesian ambassador to Singapore, said the comments made by some Indonesian ministers were immediate reactions and not administration policy.

“Indonesia and Singapore’s relationship is complementary, not competitive,” he ​said.

Singapore is Indonesia’s largest source of foreign direct investment at $17.4 billion last year. Indonesia is also reliant ‌on fuel imports and global internet cables through Singapore.

“It’s a storm in a ​teacup,” said Dewi Fortuna Anwar, a foreign policy analyst.

But there is “prickly nationalism” that leads Indonesia to be more sensitive to perceived slights and interference from other countries, she added.

(Reporting by Xinghui Kok in Singapore and Stanley Widianto in Jakarta; Editing by Josh Smith and Toby Chopra)