Singapore threatens legal action against local firms blamed for smog from Sumatra

Singapore said yesterday that it would pursue local firms found to be involved in starting forest fires in Sumatra, Indonesia, as Greenpeace said the blazes were on palm oil plantations owned by Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean companies.

Smog has engulfed the city state, with air pollution reaching a record high on Friday, although the level had dropped to "moderate" by yesterday afternoon.

Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam said Singapore would investigate possible legal action against domestic companies responsible for the fires.

"I have asked the attorney general to consider what is it that we can do in Singapore if such companies can be proved to have contributed in some way [to the fires] ... We will do everything we can do," he said.

"We will offer no succour or refuge if the actions of the companies have indeed been illegal in Indonesia and impacted on Singapore," Shanmugam said.

He pressed Indonesia to provide evidence.

"We would have to depend on Indonesia to give us the evidence ... Indonesian investigation authorities need to be on the ground, I cannot send my police officers in there to investigate," he said.