The National Environment Agency (NEA) has been gathering evidence and has served Singapore-listed firm Asia Pulp and Paper a legal notice to supply information on its subsidiaries in Singapore and Indonesia. Four Indonesian companies - Bumi Sriwijaya Sentosa, Rimba Hutani Mas, Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries and Wachyuni Mandira - have been told to take measures to extinguish fires on their land, not to start new ones and submit plans on how they will prevent them in the future.

A price to pay

Under Singapore's Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, guilty companies can be fined up to S$100,000 per day for causing unhealthy haze. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Environment and Water Resources, said: ‘Ultimately, errant companies must know that there is a price to be paid for damaging our health, environment and economy.' Sources: The Straits Times; International Business Times