Singapore proposes to increase transboundary haze penalties to S$20 million
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
Singapore's parliament is considering amendments to the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act that would raise fines to S$20 million and introduce new commercial restrictions for companies linked to haze.
Singapore's parliament introduced the Transboundary Haze Pollution (Amendment) Bill under a Certificate of Urgency, allowing it to be debated and passed in a single sitting. The proposed changes would raise the maximum fine for entities convicted of causing or contributing to haze from S$2 million to S$20 million, with daily penalties increasing to S$1 million.
The amendments also give the National Environment Agency (NEA) authority to require companies suspected of haze links to appoint private-sector assessors at their own cost, and to designate entities or individuals for economic sanctions such as restrictions on business dealings, even without a criminal conviction.
Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu told parliament that stronger powers are needed to protect Singaporeans, obtain reliable information, trace complex corporate relationships and intervene before haze reaches the country. She said the existing penalties were comparable to those for domestic pollution but insufficient to deter transboundary haze.
Under the new provisions, courts could also impose additional penalties based on profits gained or losses avoided from the offence, and NEA could pursue civil actions with penalties up to S$10 million, provided the public prosecutor consents. Entities that breach designation orders or notices could face fines of up to S$1 million per breach and daily penalties of S$100,000 for continued non-compliance.
The government has already issued Preventive Measure Notices to ten Indonesian companies and Section 10 notices to ten Singapore-registered firms, requiring them to submit fire-prevention plans and information on linked land concessions.