On the passing of the new law last month by Singapore to prosecute local and foreign companies taking part in illegal forest burning that causes haze, SMU Associate Professor of Law Eugene Tan said that “It is realistic to have the legal threat given that some of the companies that have business interests in the plantations and other agricultural lands are listed on the Singapore Exchange and/or are based in Singapore… The Singapore government had to be seen to be doing something about the annual threat. The law will, at the very least, compel Singapore-based companies to exercise greater responsibility." But Associate Prof Tan conceded land ownership in Indonesia's Sumatra is complex and Singapore has to tread carefully when pursuing any prosecutions to avoid damaging ties with Indonesia. He said a solution required cooperation between governments, plantation owners and the public.