Powers of arrest, higher penalties: Grace Fu outlines amendments to Transboundary Haze Pollution Act

Singapore is proposing powers of arrest for authorised officers and heftier penalties for firms responsible for haze pollution, under changes to the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act aimed at strengthening enforcement and deterrence. Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu outlined the proposed changes in parliament on Wednesday (Nov 4). "We will also give the Director-General (DG) of Environmental Protection and authorised officers the power of arrest in Singapore to enable them to secure the cooperation of persons of interest more effectively when necessary and in accordance with the law,” she said. Ms Fu explained that the changes would allow certain cases to proceed in court without the accused being present, and enable authorities to act against overseas fires that pose a risk of haze pollution in Singapore. #haze #singapore #sgnews Read more here: https://cna.asia/4jWSBkG Subscribe to our channel here: https://cna.asia/youtubesub Visit our website: https://cna.asia Download our app: https://cna.asia/app Get our editors' picks of stories via chat apps: Telegram: https://cna.asia/telegram WhatsApp: https://cna.asia/whatsapp Follow us on these platforms: https://www.facebook.com/channelnewsasia https://www.instagram.com/channelnewsasia https://www.tiktok.com/@channelnewsasia