Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has warned countries that he said had insulted Indonesia over its forest and land fires, adding that he would expose the companies from those countries.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Oct. 21, Prabowo called for an investigation into corporations suspected of contributing to the fires, according to CNBC Indonesia.

"As for certain countries that like to insult Indonesia, when the time comes, we will expose their companies," Prabowo said.

Prabowo did not identify the countries he was referring to.

Threatens to revoke companies' permits

Prabowo said the fires were not solely caused by natural factors, but also by human activity.

He called on the police, Attorney General's Office and Forestry Ministry, assisted by the military and intelligence agencies, to investigate corporations suspected of contributing to the fires.

He also said members of the public had caught individuals deliberately starting fires, which he described as a form of "environmental terrorism".

Prabowo said the actions of those responsible for the fires had endangered the health of millions of Indonesians, adding that the government was working hard to tackle the blazes through various measures.

"We cannot take this lightly," he said.

He added that the authorities would thoroughly investigate the fires and revoke the permits of companies found to have violated regulations.

Prabowo also defended Indonesia against criticism from other countries.

“Indonesia is a courteous and patient nation. We have often been insulted, but believe me, we will not tolerate being continually provoked,” he said.

Police investigating 98 corporations

According to Katadata, Indonesian National Police chief Suyudi Ario Seto had earlier said that foreign parties were suspected of involvement in the forest and land fires.

Speaking at a press conference at the Merdeka Palace on Oct. 19, Suyudi said some of the parties were from neighbouring countries.

He did not identify the countries involved or provide further details about their suspected involvement.

Suyudi also said police were investigating 98 corporations in connection with the fires.

"Investigators are still gathering evidence, so we will certainly name suspects in the near future," he said.

Singapore and Malaysia offer assistance

Singapore and Malaysia have offered assistance to Indonesia in tackling the forest fires, but Indonesia has yet to accept the offers.

According to an earlier Mothership report, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman said on Oct. 19 that the country was still capable of managing the fires.

Singapore offered firefighting and cloud-seeding assistance, while Malaysia proposed sending aircraft and personnel.

Sengkang Town Council is banning pickleball on certain courts and limiting play durations from Nov. 1.

The measures are intended to tackle noise complaints from the sport, said Sengkang Member of Parliament Abdul Muhaimin in an Instagram post on Oct. 21.

New measures

According to the post, courts deemed too close to residential blocks, or that received an unspecified percentage of votes from residents, will be banned.

Nine courts will remain usable:

• Anchorvale Vista, near Block 310B,
• Anchorvale Vista, near Block 312A,
• Aspella, near Block 275B,
• Compassvale North Gate, near Block 262C,
• Rivervale Gardens, near Block 120D,
• Rivervale Bank, near Block 121B,
• Rivervale View, near Block 161,
• Rivervale Shores, near Block 175 and
• Rivervale Haven, near Block 197.

However, pickleball players will only be able to utilise the courts between 10am and 7:30pm from Nov. 1.

Courts allowing pickleball will contain signage that will also indicate the permitted play hours.

Pickleball court lines will be painted on the grounds of these courts.

Courts where pickleball is banned will contain signage indicating so, and pickleball court lines will be removed from their grounds.

Multiple factors

The two new measures were voted on by residents as the most acceptable ones.

According to the post, pickleball survey data, alongside on-site research by the town council, contributed to the changes.

The factors considered included distance between the courts and residential areas, feedback from residents, the sound frequency of pickleball games and the site layout and environmental features.

"Balancing the diverse needs of residents can be challenging," the post wrote.

"Through the pickleball survey and the introduction of new measures, SKTC hopes to support residents who enjoy active lifestyles while also respecting the needs of those who value a quieter environment for rest and recuperation."

Other estates have done the same

Sengkang is the latest town council to introduce measures tackling noise complaints from pickleball games.

In 2025, Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council banned pickleball in its community badminton court after receiving feedback from residents on the noise disturbances caused by the sport within the estate.

Courts in certain HDB estates, like Ang Mo Kio, have also implemented time restrictions of 9am to 9pm on court usage.

Mountbatten, meanwhile, announced in early 2026 that it would introduce foam-ball-only pickleball sessions in morning and evening games amidst rising noise concerns.

Zeng Ze Qun, a 23-year-old Chinese student at the National University of Singapore (NUS), was arrested after he was caught filming his female housemate in the shower.

According to Shin Min Daily News, the 22-year-old female student and Zeng had rented a private accommodation in the west of Singapore.

Caught filming

On Aug. 18 at about 9:25pm, Zeng was eating dinner in the kitchen when he realised that his housemate had gone to shower.

He kept his unfinished food in the refrigerator and slipped to the toilet, where he put his arm through the window and started filming with his phone.

The woman noticed this and screamed, before she dressed herself and left the bathroom, Shin Min reported.

Hearing her scream, Zeng stopped filming and fled to a nearby mall.

He quickly deleted the videos he had taken to cover up his crime.

He eventually returned home, where he was arrested by police who had arrived at the scene.

Filmed her 10 times in two months

According to charge sheets, Zeng had recorded the female resident a total of 10 times between Jun. 20 and Aug. 18.

He filmed her while she was in the shower and when she was undressed in her room.

The court has issued a gag order that prevents identification of the victim.

Zeng testified that secretly filming others made him feel excited, and he used it as a way to relieve academic pressure and anxiety, reported Shin Min.

He would delete the videos he took about a week after he filmed them; the police were unable to recover these videos from his phone.

The prosecution urged the judge to hand Zeng a jail sentence of at least six and a half months.

Meanwhile, the defence counsel noted that he is in his final semester of his Master of Science programme at NUS, and requested that Zeng be allowed to defer his sentence so that he may complete his studies, as reported by Shin Min.

Zeng pled guilty on Oct. 20, and will be sentenced on Dec. 16.

A wanton mee stall in Toa Payoh has suspended its business after one of the owners was recently diagnosed with stage-four pancreatic cancer and has now started chemotherapy.

Pin Xiang Wanton Mee, located at Toa Payoh Lor 4, has become a neighbourhood favourite since it began serving customers in 1993.

The notice put up at the shuttered stall, shared on Facebook on Oct. 20, simply stated that the closure was "due to personal circumstances".

It was a "difficult decision", and the owners are "unable to confirm if or when [they] will return", the notice added.

The diagnosis

He Mei Fa, 57, who runs the stall with his 52-year-old wife Ye Xue Ying (both names transliterated), revealed to Shin Min Daily News that he got the news on his birthday on Oct. 5.

Ye's birthday fell on the following day.

The couple could not believe it when they learnt about his diagnosis.

Despite having high blood pressure and diabetes, He had always thought he was still rather healthy.

But he started losing weight earlier in the year, and by October, he was feeling unwell and fatigued. After a health checkup, the doctor told him he had cancer.

Although it came as an unexpected blow, He is determined to face his cancer with a positive mind, and even jokingly asked his doctor whether he could still continue to run the stall.

He understood, however, that he needed to get healthy to support his family and not worry them.

Support from his family

His wife, who was devastated by his diagnosis, is his greatest source of support, Shin Min reported him as saying.

To allow him to rest during his treatment, the couple decided to suspend the stall's operations.

After finishing one round of chemotherapy, He would get tired more easily, but has felt no major impact on his daily life.

As his original plan to visit Xinjiang with his wife was cancelled, he hopes to take her to Finland after his recovery.

His older daughter described He a great father who used to take her and her sister cycling and to the library when he was free.

"He often said that we weren't wealthy, but since we were young, he signed us up for piano, drawing, and swimming lessons," she said.

Concern from customers

Over the 30 years that Pin Xiang Wanton Mee has been in operation, the stall often sees long queues of customers, according to Shin Min.

Many of their customers have become friends, and would even invite them to go on trips together, He shared.

A regular customer posted on Facebook that he was "really affected and sad to hear that Uncle fell sick", and wished that he would get well soon.

Speaking to Shin Min, He said he was grateful for the customers' concern, and hopes to reopen the stall when he gets better.

He added that he had talked to his two daughters about a potential takeover of the business in the future. If they are willing, he would help them out.

Malaysian MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has hit back at Indonesian former trade minister Muhammad Lutfi.

This was after Lutfi criticised the lawmaker’s call for stronger regional action against Indonesia over the haze.

In a video posted on Oct. 21, the Muar MP said companies proven to have started forest fires should face action, regardless of whether they are Malaysian, Indonesian or Singaporean.

“I will not shield polluters, even those from my own country,” he said in Malay.

His response came after Lutfi criticised his call for Indonesia to be treated as an “outcast” in ASEAN over the recurring transboundary haze.

Lutfi: Haze is not a stage for “cheap political theatre”

On Oct. 20, Lutfi uploaded an Instagram video alleging Syed called on ASEAN to treat Indonesia as an “outcast” over the haze.

His remarks came in response to Syed’s call in Malaysia parliament for ASEAN countries to exert diplomatic and financial pressure on Indonesia over the recurring haze.

In the caption accompanying his Instagram video, Lutfi wrote: “Wildfire smoke is a tragedy, not a stage for cheap political theatre.”

He claimed Malaysian plantation giants controlled up to 3.4 million hectares in Indonesia, with financing from Malaysian banks, while profits from downstream processing flowed to Kuala Lumpur.

Lutfi said corporations should be held accountable regardless of nationality, but objected to criticism directed at Indonesia as a whole:

“But never insult an entire nation that gave your industries the land and licences to thrive,” he wrote.

At the end of his video, he added: “If you don’t understand how this business works, don’t make my whole country a target.”

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Muhammad Lutfi (@m.lutf

Syed's response

In a response video, Syed said he supported punishing Malaysian or Singaporean companies if evidence established their involvement in the fires.

However, he pointed out that the companies operating in Indonesia were subject to Indonesian law, saying: “The power is in your hands!”

Syed added that he had called for action against Malaysian companies involved in the fires in the same parliamentary sitting, and urged Lutfi to watch his full speech.

“Don’t cut my speech to the point that you cut out the truth,” he said.

Addressing Lutfi’s reference to Malaysian plantation group SD Guthrie, Syed argued that having large plantations did not itself prove wrongdoing.

He said there was no evidence so far that the company had started the fires.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Syed Saddiq (@syedsaddiq)

Syed challenges Lutfi’s use of Greenpeace figures

Syed also challenged Lutfi’s interpretation of a Greenpeace report, accusing him of presenting only part of the picture.

He contrasted the 19 smoke-source points recorded in a concession linked to Malaysian plantation group Kuala Lumpur Kepong (KLK) with the wider figure of 6,811 cited in the report.

“Do you want us to focus only on the contributor accounting for 0.3 per cent, rather than the other 99.7 per cent?” he asked. “Don’t speak out loudly against one name, then stay silent about the others.”

Greenpeace’s report recorded 6,811 smoke-source points across Indonesia between Aug. 8 and Oct. 1, 2026.

These are locations where smoke from forest and land fires was detected.

The 19 points recorded within a concession linked to KLK formed part of that total, accounting for approximately 0.3 per cent.

Call for unity

Syed said the issue was about people who wanted clean air standing against those polluting it.

In his accompanying caption, he wrote: “The profits go into companies’ accounts. The smoke goes into people’s lungs.”

He also stressed that children in both Malaysia and Indonesia were struggling to breathe.

“Our flags may be different, but our need to breathe is the same,” Syed said.

Lutfi's string of accusations

Lutfi’s remarks are part of a series of criticisms and allegations directed at Singapore and Malaysia, which he has accused of benefiting from businesses operating in Indonesia while leaving the country to bear the environmental costs.

In earlier Instagram videos addressing Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, he questioned whether Singapore would pursue influential business owners and corporate groups linked to the fires, rather than stop at issuing notices to companies in Indonesia.

Separately, Lutfi alleged, without providing evidence, that GIC and Temasek had pressured global index provider MSCI to threaten a downgrade of Indonesia’s stock market status, triggering panic so foreign investors could buy Indonesian assets cheaply.

Who is Mohammad Lutfi?

Lutfi served as trade minister under then-president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo from December 2020 to June 2022.

He left the post when Jokowi appointed Zulkifli Hasan as his replacement in a cabinet reshuffle on Jun. 15, 2022.

He had previously held the same portfolio from February to October 2014 under then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

In August 2023, Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office questioned Lutfi as a witness in a corruption investigation involving export approvals for crude palm oil and related products, including cooking oil, Antara reported.

The case concerned export approvals issued during a domestic cooking oil shortage in 2022.

According to Reuters, prosecutors alleged that permits had been issued to companies that had not fulfilled domestic supply requirements.

Antara reported in August 2023 that five people, including the Trade Ministry’s former director-general of foreign trade, had received prison sentences in the case.

Lao Ban Soya Beancurd has added the 10 cents BCRS refundable charge to their soya milk drink.

In a Facebook post made on Oct. 21, the popular soya milk chain announced that the drink cups would be eligible for return at BCRS machines.

Lao Ban said it has charged the deposit since Oct. 1, about three weeks before the post. That is the date NEA’s six-month transition period ended, after which all regulated beverage containers must carry the deposit.

In September, photos circulated on Facebook showing the BCRS refund sticker affixed to their soya milk drink cups.

Backlash

The post garnered significant backlash, with many users complaining about the additional hassle of bringing the cups to a machine to receive their refund, and potential effects on their business.

Some users also expressed indignation as they thought that such beverages were exempt from the scheme.

However, Lao Ban clarified that their containers do indeed fall under the BCRS scheme.

This is because their drink products are made in a central kitchen and distributed to retail outlets and supermarkets, and therefore fall under the category of pre-packaged drinks.

According to the National Environment Agency's (NEA) website, all pre-packaged beverages are included in the scheme.

Only freshly-prepared drinks – that is, drinks made and sold in the same premises, or prepared at a central F&B establishment for sale by the same food business operator – are exempt.

A Singaporean man recently made headlines after winning fifth place in his first-ever bodybuilding competition in Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia.

But Muhammad Aidil Mohamed Sis, 37, did not originally intend to enter the sport.

He started training in November 2025 as a means to lose weight, intending to become fitter to keep up with his young daughters, seven and 11.

Wanted to keep up with daughters

Aidil told Berita Harian that after reaching 92kg in 2025, he realised he needed to change the way he lived. 

He would get tired easily while doing activities with his daughters, he said, which prevented him from spending time with them for long.

The broadcast presenter and freelance fitness trainer had been interested in bodybuilding for a long time, but never had enough confidence and the right supervision to participate in competitions.

After he began training with a trainer in November 2025, he met others who were participating in bodybuilding competitions.

They, as well as Aidil's wife, encouraged him to prepare for a competition in January 2026.

According to him, the hardest part of the training regime was not in the gym, but rather in controlling his diet.

The sweet-toothed man said he had to limit his intake of sweet treats and sometimes opted for sugar-free alternatives.

To avoid burdening his wife, a homemaker, he would also weigh and proportion his own food.

He also had to balance his time between training at the gym, cardio exercises, work and family, which sometimes required sacrificing his free time.

"People may only see the few minutes we spend on stage, but they don't see the sacrifices that take months behind the scenes," he told Berita Harian.

"One thing I always remember is that we can pursue our dreams, but we must not forget the people who are always by our side."

10-month transformation

On Aug. 29, Aidil shared his transformation journey over 10 months on his own Instagram page, writing: "If you really put your mind to something and stay consistent, you CAN do it."

"I can finally say that I’ve achieved one of the best physiques I’ve ever had in my life," he wrote in the caption.

He was also announced as the fifth place winner in the First Timer Men's Physique Competitor category of the PCA Malaysian Championships in KL on Oct. 11.

According to Berita Harian, Aidil was one of only two Singaporeans among 12 contestants in the category.

"For some people, fifth place might not be a big deal," he told the media outlet.

A couple from China realised they were not able to sustain themselves after illegally staying in Singapore for about 19 years.

Ding Hui Yun and her husband, Huang Dong Ming, both 68, later turned themselves in to the Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA)’s repatriation division, hoping to be deported back to China.

Ding has now been sentenced to six months in jail and a fine of S$2,000 in lieu of caning.

She pleaded guilty to one charge of violating the Immigration Act and overstaying her special pass for 19 years, two months, and 23 days.

A second charge of failing to comply with her special pass conditions was taken into consideration.

However, she will have to serve an additional 12 days in lieu as the fine was not paid.

Huang was set to appear in court with Ding on Oct. 6, but did not turn up as he was sick, reported CNA.

He faces one charge of violating the Immigration Act and overstaying for 18 years, 10 months, and three days.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 29.

Overstayed

In May 2007, Ding reportedly entered Singapore illegally and was sentenced to four weeks in jail and a S$1,500 fine in lieu of caning.

After serving her sentence, ICA issued her a special pass that allowed her to remain in Singapore until mid-July of the same year as a prosecution witness, CNA reported.

However, she failed to report to the authorities when her pass expired and chose to remain in Singapore to reportedly escape debts owed by her family in China. She stayed illegally in Singapore for 19 years.

She then made a living by picking up odd jobs during her overstay.

Surrendered

On Oct. 6, Ding and her husband turned themselves in to the ICA’s repatriation division after being unable to make ends meet.

Neither Ding nor Huang had a passport, only Chinese household registration documents, Lianhe Zaobao reported.

In court, the ICA prosecutor asked for the maximum sentence of six months’ jail and a S$2,000 fine in lieu of caning.

Through an interpreter, Ding pleaded for leniency on the grounds that she turned herself in and that she suffers from diabetes.

She also asked that she and her husband be deported together as he suffered from high blood pressure, so that they could take care of each other on the way back to China.

For staying illegally in Singapore, an offender can be sentenced to a maximum of six months’ imprisonment and at least three strokes of the cane.

If caning is not applicable, a fine of up to S$6,000 will be imposed in lieu of caning.

Miss Universe Singapore Vion Erico Tan will not be going to Puerto Rico to compete in the Miss Universe pageant on Nov. 24, 2026.

This is due to an ongoing franchise dispute.

Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Laos will also not be represented.

Miss Grand International (MGI) said in an Oct. 21 statement that “consultation with the relevant parties, national organisations and the six representatives” led to the decision.

The statement added: “Their non-participation shall not constitute a voluntary withdrawal, relinquishment, surrender, abandonment or waiver of any contractual rights held by MGI.”

The Miss Universe Singapore Organisation said on Oct. 22 that it fully supports the decision and the team had been "actively preparing" for Tan's participation and will continue with preparations "of representing Singapore at Miss Universe 2027, in a different host country".

In an Instagram post, Tan said the news hit her harder than she can "put into words": "I need a little time to gather my thoughts and process everything before I share more about what comes next."

Franchise dispute

The non-participation stemmed from an ongoing franchise disagreement, where franchise agreements across the six South-east Asian nations were not recognised.

The dispute is between Miss Universe Eastern and media conglomerate JKN, which owns the Miss Universe pageant.

JKN holds the legal rights and licensing to the Miss Universe brand and operates as the Miss Universe Organization.

The franchise rights for the six countries are owned by Miss Universe Eastern, led by Thai pageant director Nawat Itsaragrisil.

JKN had previously stated in September 2026 that Miss Universe franchise agreements across the six Southeast Asian countries were not recognised, raising questions about their representatives' eligibility to compete.

MGI – also owned by Itsaragrisil – said in its statement that it "respects Puerto Rico and its people" and "does not wish to see the host destination itself unfairly affected by a corporate dispute unrelated to them".

Rehearsals and promotional events in Puerto Rico start on Nov. 8.

The grand finale will be on Nov. 24.

Three teenagers in Malaysia were electrocuted after strong winds pushed the big flags they were carrying into power lines.

They were carrying the flags as part of a Nine Emperor Gods Festival procession.

One of the three teens, a 16-year-old, suffered burns to 80 per cent of his body.

The 16-year-old succumbed to his injuries after spending a week in the hospital.

16-year-old passes after one week in hospital

After suffering the electrocution, the 16-year-old, Xu Zhi Kang (transliteration), was taken to the hospital.

The incident occurred during a Nine Emperor Gods Festival procession in Kedah, Malaysia, on Oct. 13.

He was the most seriously injured of the three teenagers.

On Oct. 19, the teenager underwent a skin graft operation that lasted eight to nine hours, Sin Chew Daily reported.

However, his immune system remained weak and his condition continued to be unstable post-operation.

He succumbed to his injuries on Oct. 21 at about 1am.

Xu suffered burns to 80 per cent of his body.

Outgoing, excellent student

Xu's father remembers him as an outgoing boy who was full of life, Sin Chew Daily wrote.

He had been a basketball player and volunteered as a firefighter.

Xu was also an excellent student who was in the top class.

The 16-year-old was the eldest of six siblings.

He was well-loved by his siblings, and his departure has left them in grief, Sin Chew Daily wrote.

"Dad, dad, dad"

After learning about what happened, Xu's father said he rushed to the hospital.

When Xu saw him arrive, Xu cried out to him three times.

He also told his father that he felt cold.

His father then covered him with a blanket and told him to get a good rest.

This was the father and son's final exchange.