Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on October 15, 2026 that the government is investigating companies potentially responsible for the forest and peatland fires in Indonesia that have smothered the city-state in unhealthy air for weeks, warning that legal action could follow under Singapore's Transboundary Haze Pollution Act.
The announcement, reported by CNBC, came as air quality remained at unhealthy levels for a second straight day, with the Pollutant Standards Index hitting a season high of 212 in western Singapore at midday on October 15, according to The Straits Times. Wong said Singapore is also exploring joint action with other affected countries, signaling that the city-state may not fight the haze alone.
A crisis six weeks in the making
Singapore's air quality first deteriorated to unhealthy levels on September 4, the first time in nearly three years, according to government data cited by CNBC. The smoke has drifted from widespread fires in Indonesia's Kalimantan region, a recurring pattern that has haunted Southeast Asia for decades and that critics say reflects the gap between corporate profit and environmental accountability.
The consequences are now visible across the city-state. Seletar Airport has recorded 16 flight diversions due to low visibility, spokespeople for Changi Airport Group and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore told CNBC. Outdoor restaurants and hawker centers, the beating heart of Singapore's street food culture, are reporting a drop in business. Marina Bay Sands has suspended outdoor experiences that involve prolonged exposure and is handing out masks and air purifiers to guests.
Even Singapore's diplomatic calendar has taken a hit. Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo told CNBC's Squawk Box Asia that the haze was not the best way to welcome international guests during Singapore International Cyber Week, an event that has drawn a record turnout of more than 15,000 visitors from over 100 countries.
Who pays for the haze?
Wong's threat of legal action is the most significant development in this year's haze season. Under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, passed in 2014, Singapore can pursue civil and even criminal penalties against companies whose land-clearing fires elsewhere in the region pollute Singapore's air. The law has rarely been tested, and enforcement has long been the missing piece.
That impatience is now public. The Online Citizen published an open letter to the prime minister on October 15 criticizing government inaction and urging stronger enforcement of the haze law, tougher action against polluting companies, and greater regional pressure to stop the fires from recurring year after year.
Wong, for his part, struck a protective tone.