Indonesia and Singapore plan joint task force on fire-related corporate offences
The initiative will trace corporate funding and exchange evidence across borders, with a longer-term goal of restoring damaged land or assets.
A task force agreed by Indonesia and Singapore will pursue enforcement against companies found responsible for causing forest and land fires, Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir said in Jakarta.
Addressing reporters alongside Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan after bilateral talks, Nasir said the initiative would enable exchanges of financial intelligence and information. Its work will include obtaining cross-border evidence and tracking corporate money used to start fires.
Nasir said both governments were committed to holding perpetrators legally accountable. Restoring damaged land or assets is a longer-term objective. He welcomed Singapore’s offer of company data linked to fire cases and hoped the partnership could eventually help tackle other shared problems, including under-invoicing.
Balakrishnan said Singapore would deepen coordination with Jakarta and exchange information through the task force. He pledged close cooperation on tackling the fires, saying Singapore would make full use of legal, regulatory and economic measures against companies proven guilty. He also expressed confidence that the initiative could discourage corporations from causing fires.
