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Deep Dive - Making companies behind the haze pay: Can Singapore succeed?

Deep Dive

Since the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act was enacted in 2014, no company has yet been successfully prosecuted. What is Singapore doing differently this time, to pursue the culprits behind this year’s haze? Ten companies linked to the fires have received preventive measure notices, while Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam has warned that Singapore will use every legal, regulatory and economic measure to pressure recalcitrant companies to act. Steven Chia and Tiffany Ang speak with environmental law expert Sean Tseng of the Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law to find out why unclear land ownership and corporate structures make criminal prosecutions difficult and how the use of other levers – such as banks and the Singapore Exchange - could put commercial pressure on haze-linked companies.

More from Deep Dive on the haze - Learn how to better protect yourself from the unhealthy air, with advice from an air pollution expert: https://cna.asia/4yXW5Ia 

Steven Chia

Steven Chia

Tiffany Ang

Tiffany Ang

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Deep Dive - Making companies behind the haze pay: Can Singapore succeed?

Since the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act was enacted in 2014, no company has yet been successfully prosecuted. What is Singapore doing differently this time, to pursue the culprits behind this year’s haze? Ten companies linked to the fires have received preventive measure notices, while Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam has warned that Singapore will use every legal, regulatory and economic measure to pressure recalcitrant companies to act. Steven Chia and Tiffany Ang speak with environmental law expert Sean Tseng of the Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law to find out why unclear land ownership and corporate structures make criminal prosecutions difficult and how the use of other levers – such as banks and the Singapore Exchange - could put commercial pressure on haze-linked companies. More from Deep Dive on the haze - Learn how to better protect yourself from the unhealthy air, with advice from an air pollution expert: https://cna.asia/4yXW5Ia 

Resume Pause 28 mins
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Deep Dive - Does air-con keep you safe from haze? What we might be getting wrong about haze safety

With Singapore shrouded in unhealthy levels of haze for weeks – and authorities warning of worse conditions before they improve – how can we protect our health? If an air purifier isn’t an option, what hacks can help you minimise exposure and does staying in an air-conditioned place really help? In this week’s Deep Dive, Steven Chia and Tiffany Ang speak with urban air quality expert Professor Rajasekhar Balasubramanian, of the National University of Singapore, on the Internet’s burning questions such as: why can’t haze forecasting be more reliable? Which air quality indicators should I pay attention to? Will just any air purifier do? What happens to my body if I’m out jogging in the haze? And which is more toxic – haze or cigarettes?More from Deep Dive on the haze - What Singapore is doing differently to pursue companies behind this year’s fires: https://cna.asia/3WC8Olx 

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Deep Dive - Do civil servants need tighter safeguards against misuse of confidential information?

Eight public officers have been referred to the police following a Public Service Division review of 191 officers’ property transactions near then-unannounced MRT stations. While this does not mean that wrongdoing has been established, the case raises questions about the use of confidential government information and public trust. Where is the line between legitimate personal decisions and the misuse of privileged information? Are Singapore's existing public service safeguards enough to prevent and detect potential abuse? Steven Chia and Tiffany Ang speak with lawyer and former deputy public prosecutor Marshall Lim and Dr Celia Lee, Senior Research Fellow at the Nanyang Centre for Public Administration, about the legal and ethical issues, the higher standards expected of civil servants and whether tighter safeguards could unfairly limit their personal choices.

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Deep Dive - Why is dental care so expensive in Singapore?

Is the cost of dental care stopping Singaporeans from going for preventive checks or getting timely treatment? With almost 80 per cent of dental care provided by the private sector, those who cannot afford private fees may face longer waits for subsidised care. Tiffany Ang and Steven Chia speak with Dr Yeo Kok Beng, CEO of Royce Dental Group, and Associate Professor Jeremy Lim from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine about what drives dental fees, why dental care has not received the same level of public support as medical care and whether the local dental industry's current public-private mix is leaving some people behind. Related: I'm Turning 55 With 24 Teeth Left: What Would Losing More Cost Me? | Talking PointReference: MOH Guide to Dental Treatment Costs and fee benchmarks

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Deep Dive - Renovation red flags: What to know from start to finish

Ghosted by your interior designer, left with unfinished renovation work or stuck waiting for your furniture to be delivered? For some homeowners, creating their dream home can quickly turn into a costly nightmare. So, what can homeowners do to protect themselves from renovation woes? What red flags should they look out for before signing a contract, and what can they do when things go wrong? In this week’s Deep Dive, Steven Chia and Tiffany Ang speak with interior designer Shaun Fong and litigator Pang Khin Wee from IRB Law to unpack the risks, red flags and safeguards that every homeowner should know before embarking on a home renovation.

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