‘Indonesia returns to old habit of blaming and bullying Singapore’ — Indonesian urges his country to not turn ‘shared problems into nationalist confrontations’
Indonesia-Singapore tensions over haze, featuring The Jakarta Post commentary
INDONESIA: In an opinion piece published on Nov 3, Indonesian writer Abdul Khalik said Jakarta should address its domestic problems instead of treating criticism from neighbouring countries as an attack on national pride.
The commentary, published by The Jakarta Post, comes amid continuing haze pollution and Indonesia’s decision to reduce natural gas exports to Singapore.
The message is particularly relevant to Singapore, which has dealt with recurring cross-border haze from Indonesian forest and land fires for decades.
Indonesia’s recurring haze problem puts Singapore in the picture
Khalik recalled how then-President Soeharto apologised to Singapore in October 1997 after Indonesian forest fires blanketed the city-state in smoke.
Nearly three decades later, the haze has returned, bringing back tensions between the neighbours “along with an old political habit: blaming outsiders rather than confronting failures at home,” Khalik wrote.
The article criticised President Prabowo Subianto’s response to complaints, saying criticism had been treated as an insult to Indonesia.
It also questioned why national pride should take precedence while forests continue burning and Indonesians themselves suffer from polluted air.
The commentary cited reports of respiratory infections, hospital visits and school closures in affected Indonesian provinces.
However, it cautioned that no independently verified national tally of haze-related illnesses, hospitalisations, school closures and deaths had been published.
It also pointed to commercial interests behind land clearing and fires, arguing that ordinary people bear the cost.
Singapore's Transboundary Haze Pollution Act was also discussed. The law allows action against companies responsible for causing transboundary haze, including those operating outside Singapore.
Gas export cuts add another layer of tension
The disagreement extends beyond environmental concerns. Indonesia began reducing natural gas exports to Singapore by 31 billion British thermal units per day on Oct 24.
Indonesia says it needs to prioritise domestic energy requirements, including electricity generation and industrial demand.
Khalik acknowledged Indonesia's right to secure energy for its own population. However, he questioned whether the timing and increasingly confrontational rhetoric risked turning economic ties into political pressure.
A country can protect its domestic interests while still respecting commercial agreements and maintaining constructive relations with its neighbours.
Singapore and Indonesia need cooperation, not confrontation
The tensions come despite recent diplomatic efforts to improve relations. On Oct 28, Singapore's Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan met President Prabowo during his visit to Jakarta.
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The Jakarta Post argued that Indonesia should defend its interests without turning every disagreement into a question of national respect.
It also urged Indonesia to learn from Singapore's institutional strengths rather than treating the city-state as a convenient target.
Singapore needs a neighbour willing to address the sources of cross-border pollution, while Indonesia deserves to protect its legitimate domestic interests. Neither objective needs to come at the expense of the other.
The upcoming ASEAN discussions will offer another opportunity to demonstrate whether both governments can translate diplomatic commitments into practical action.
Ultimately, neighbouring countries don't have to agree on everything, but they should be able to discuss problems, honour their commitments and find workable solutions without making ordinary people pay the price.