image copyrightReuters
The thick smoke spewing out from forest fires in Kalimantan, Papua, and Sumatra regions of Indonesia does not respect borders.
These poisonous kites, spread by the wind, have been causing respiratory problems and headaches to residents of neighboring countries, including Singapore and Malaysia, in recent weeks.
Governments in the region are also in an awkward situation. Although its citizens are complaining, relations with Indonesia may worsen.
"People are tired, angry and anxious," Eugene Tan, associate professor of law at the Singapore Management University, told the BBC.
“If governments do not respond properly, (air pollution), which was originally an external problem outside their borders, may develop into a domestic political problem.”
In Indonesia, forest fires that occur every year are mainly related to large-scale forest clearing to grow crops such as palm oil.
However, this year, due to a strong El Niño, drought continues in Indonesia's forests and peatlands, making it difficult to suppress forest fires.
In the past, haze has spread to Singapore and Malaysia, but it usually lasted only a few days. But this time it has been going on for several weeks.
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In Malaysia, citizens boycotted Indonesian products after lawmaker Saeed Sadiq called for sanctions against companies involved in the forest fires and said Malaysians should "treat these companies like outcasts."
Complaints are also being raised in Singapore, which has long expected perfect efficiency from its national leadership.
Professor Tan explained, “A strong El Niño was already expected, and even though an early warning was issued, there seems to be an opinion that the government was negligent in responding to smog.”
“Clearly Singaporeans expect the government to deal firmly with polluters.”
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diplomatic dilemma
The Singapore government's position is that it is responding to the smog problem as a top priority.
Hundreds of shelters were set up across Singapore, and masks were distributed to children, the elderly and other vulnerable residents.
Authorities also said they plan to strengthen smog-related laws and are investigating 10 companies registered in Singapore for possible links to forest fires in Indonesia.
Last week, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan met in person with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta.
Minister Balakrishnan described the conversation as "frank" and "heartfelt" and resulting in a "constructive approach".
This meeting took place as the two countries announced that they would form a joint task force to solve the smog problem, and this seemed to ease tensions between the two countries that had been rising for several weeks.
image copyrightPresidential Secretariat of Indonesia
As this incident placed yet another burden on the already embattled Prabowo administration, some Indonesian officials reacted to criticism from neighboring countries.
A senior official sparked controversy by saying that the current forest fires are beyond human control and that the oxygen that Singapore and Malaysians breathe "comes from our forests."
Singapore's senior minister K. Shanmugam responded to the comments, calling them "disappointing and incorrect." It was an unusual rebuke for the Singapore government, which boasts restrained diplomatic capabilities.
“Smog is having a serious impact on our health and this is truly unacceptable,” Shanmugam told reporters, adding that “there should not be any bilateral issues” in resolving it as it affects citizens on both sides of the border.
“The Indonesian people are also suffering. It is in Indonesia’s interests as much as ours to deal with the companies that are causing these problems.”
A few days later, Indonesia announced it would reduce gas exports to Singapore, citing domestic energy needs, a move interpreted as retaliation for Singapore's comments.
In fact, some areas in Indonesia have recently been experiencing power shortages. Singapore also explained that the reduction would be less than 2% of total daily demand, so the impact on gas supply would be minimal.
But the sudden announcement of cuts comes just days after Indonesia's energy minister warned that gas exports could be halted to countries that "don't respect Indonesia."
Also on the same day, President Prabowo mentioned the forest fires and referred to "countries that like to insult Indonesia."
Professor Tan said, "This is a typical tactic to brand Singapore as a public enemy," and pointed out, "It stems from the 'Abang-Adik (older brother-little brother)' syndrome." The older brother-little brother syndrome is an unspoken pressure or expectation that a country with a small territory will conform to a relatively large country, and Singapore's leaders have been trying for a long time to shake off this phenomenon.
"Singapore's leaders have expressed concern about smog and the impact it will have on the people of both countries, which is being taken to mean that Singapore does not respect its neighbor (Indonesia)."
image copyrightAFP via Getty Images
Waiting for the wind direction to change
On the other hand, Malaysian authorities are relatively sparing in speaking about this incident.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohammad Hassan drew a line, saying he would not take formal diplomatic protest or legal action against Indonesia. The explanation is that such a measure “would mean that we are prepared to sever relations.”
As of now, Malaysia has signed a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia to strengthen forest fire prevention efforts.
Minister Mohammad also explained that he would rely on diplomatic mechanisms such as the 'Convention on Transboundary Long-Range Air Pollutants'. This agreement, which came into effect in 2003, requires member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to cooperate to solve the recurring smog problem.
However, there are many voices saying that it is not effective because it is impossible to punish companies involved in forest fires and it cannot be forced on individual governments.
Professor James Chin, who teaches Asian studies at the University of Tasmania in Australia, said the agreement had turned out to be "nothing more than a piece of paper."
“As soon as the smog disappears and the political pressure subsides, everything will go back to normal.”
In 2016, ASEAN countries set a goal to eradicate smog in the region by 2020. And when that deadline passed, a new goal of 2030 was quietly presented.
What makes Malaysia's position more complicated is the fact that it is also a major palm oil producer. Palm oil production is often linked to commercial 'slash-and-burn' practices, which are often blamed for the region's forest fires.
Malaysia sometimes experiences severe smoke damage from forest fires within the country.
In 2019, when Malaysia pointed to Indonesia's peatlands as the cause of the thick smoke covering the skies over the region, Indonesian authorities refuted the claim, saying that the smog originated from Malaysia.
A Sun Oh, senior advisor at the Malaysia Pacific Research Center, pointed out, “As long as palm oil cultivation is an important industry, (the smog problem) will continue to recur.”
Oh added that even if Malaysia were to speak out, it would be difficult to exert as much "influence" over Indonesia as Singapore, which is Indonesia's largest foreign investor and an overseas financial hub used by many wealthy Indonesians.
He analyzed that Malaysia currently “does not want to provoke Indonesia unnecessarily.”
“The (Malaysian) government is just anxiously waiting for the wind to blow away (this smog problem). Eventually, the smog will blow away.”
