PM Wong, Prabowo have communicated, committed to 'do what is necessary' to tackle issues, including haze: Vivian Balakrishnan

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto have communicated.

This sets the political commitment on both sides to "do what is necessary" on issues, including haze.

This was shared by Singapore's foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan as he gave a doorstop to Singapore media in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Oct. 28.

It was previously reported that Vivian would be meeting President Prabowo that afternoon, but no details were released.

When asked how the meeting went, Vivian said that he was not at liberty to discuss the details.

But he assured that communication has "occurred at the highest level" between PM Wong and President Prabowo.

"Now we have to implement those plans, execute that commitment," he said.

A joint task force on haze had been announced set up a joint task force to hold companies accountable for forest fires.

Constructive approaches

At the start of the doorstop, Vivian emphasised the need to ensure "high-level direct communication between governments", especially when transboundary events occur.

That was one of the reasons why he made this visit to Jakarta on Oct. 27 — to seek direct explanations, convey concerns, and explore solutions in person with the Indonesian leaders.

He also said that because issues like the haze affect people on the ground in both Indonesia and Singapore, “politics does get involved”. But it is essential to keep looking for “cooperative, collaborative, constructive solutions”, which he said “occupied the bandwidth” of the trip.

He shared that they have had "good" and "honest" conversations during the trip, resulting in "a few constructive approaches".

They are in the midst of implementing some of them now, he added.

He referred to the joint task force that Singapore and Indonesia will form to tackle the forest fires behind the haze, announced after his meeting with his Indonesian counterpart on Oct. 27.

The task force aims to facilitate a collective response, an exchange of information, and synergy, he explained.

This way, the two countries can work together to deter the companies engaging in "such antisocial and, quite frankly, dangerous acts", and make sure that such actions do not recur.

The haze problem has been happening in Southeast Asia for almost three decades, Vivian said.

"That's far too long, and we do need to find solutions."

Singapore has also been exploring enhancing its legislative and policy tools to keep companies accountable regarding the haze, he added.

Political differences are expected

Vivian was also asked about how tensions from the haze and the recent export cuts might affect bilateral relations between Singapore and Indonesia.

He pointed out that when problems arise between interdependent neighbours, there are "bound to be differences in priority [and] differences in approach".

There might even be political and polemic issues, he said.

"But precisely at a moment like this, it's important for cool heads to prevail, for direct, honest, candid, constructive conversations to be had, and for us to look for a collective approach."

He added that "differences are to be expected", even polemic statements from time to time.

"But the Singapore way is to be prepared to be constructive, and to be quietly confident.

And I think we will get through this again in our usual Singapore way. I'm confident of that."

On the contractual obligations for Indonesia's gas export reductions, Vivian assured that there is a "common commitment to the sanctity of contract".

"All sides understand that there is a reason why signatures and contractual obligations matter," he said.