S’pore to use ‘every legal and regulatory lever’ against companies linked to haze: Shanmugam

Government agencies are considering legal, regulatory and economic measures to exert pressure on these companies where it matters, said Senior Minister K. Shanmugam.

ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

Zaihan Mohamed Yusof

Published Oct 19, 2026, 05:00 PM

Updated Oct 19, 2026, 05:00 PM

SINGAPORE – Vowing to use “every legal and regulatory lever” at Singapore’s disposal in confronting companies linked to the region’s choking haze, Senior Minister K. Shanmugam on Oct 19 warned recalcitrant firms not to underestimate the Government’s determination to take action.

Government agencies are considering legal, regulatory and economic measures to exert pressure on these companies where it matters, including on their bottom lines, access to financing and standing with investors, he said.

Existing laws will be changed or new laws introduced - on an urgent basis - to ensure further cooperation, Shanmugam said, adding that the authorities will continue pursuing the matter even after the haze has cleared up. Speaking to reporters during a visit to Woodlands Checkpoint, he said: “Some companies may try to deny responsibility. They may think that it is hard to get evidence, and that they may think that they can escape scrutiny. But they should not underestimate the Singapore government's determination to act.” He noted that companies cannot claim to be environmentally responsible, while refusing to subject themselves to scrutiny. “They cannot greenwash their behaviour. They should also be under no illusion that they can simply wait for the haze to clear and return to business as usual.”

Shanmugam, who is Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, also had strong words for Singapore-listed companies who were found to have ties to burning plantations in Indonesia. “Companies cannot play hide and seek with different corporate structures. Nor should they hope that because the evidence and actions are in Indonesia, they can escape responsibility in Singapore,” he said. His remarks come after the NEA issued legal notices to seven firms linked to the haze. The seven firms – Bumi Andalas Permai, Bumi Mekar Hijau, Paramitra Mulia Langgeng, Sumatera Alam Anugerah, Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries, Hutan Lestari Raya and Bangkanesia – manage pulpwood plantations.

Checks by The Straits Times found that four had Singapore links.

Bumi Andalas Permai, Bumi Mekar Hijau and Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries are suppliers for Asia Pulp and Paper, which maintains a Singapore presence. These three firms received similar notices from NEA during the 2015 haze crisis, and their cases remain open.

Meanwhile, Paramitra Mulia Langgeng is a subsidiary of the Sungai Budi Group, which is led by Singapore permanent resident Oey Widarto. The conglomerate’s vice-chairman, Santoso Winata, is also a Singapore PR. On Oct 19, NEA said it was issuing notices to three more companies: Buana Megatama Jaya – an Asia Pulp and Paper supplier, Mananjung Hayak and Baratama Putra Perkasa. Noting that investigations show Asia Pulp and Paper buys from three companies that have received notices from NEA, Shanmugam said: “We will drill into this further. He also cited Singapore Exchange-listed First Resources, which said in an Oct 16 statement that some fires originated from outside its boundaries, before spreading into areas under its management. Some fires became too large and fast-moving to contain despite its firefighting efforts, it said. In a strongly-worded critique, Shanmugam said: “Such statements, no matter how well drafted, are not good enough.” The Government will ask for the full facts, consider all evidence fairly and act based on the facts, he said. Shanmugam said the Singapore Exchange (SGX) has queried seven Singapore-listed firms about their operations and potential ties to the haze: Golden Agri Resources, Bumitama Agri, First Resources, Wilmar, Kencana Agri, Indofood Agri and TSH Resources. Turning to banks that have lent monies to companies that could be linked to the fires, he said the banks will have to consider risks arising from environment and legal issues.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore, which regulates banks, will “obviously have supervisory jurisdiction over the banks to make sure that they manage their risks properly”, the minister added. “We will also examine whether the companies that are said to be linked to the haze are in any way enjoying benefits in Singapore,” said Shanmugam, citing examples such as government grants and incentives. Because such benefits are dependent on lawful and responsible conduct, he said there is a need to examine whether these firms still meet those standards. Asked about whether these actions could have diplomatic implications for ties between Singapore and Indonesia, Shanmugam said it is in both countries’ interest to deal with the companies responsible. Inaction is not the Singapore approach, he said, stressing that “there will be no Singapore” if lawmakers think in that manner. “We do not think there should be any bilateral issues. The Indonesian public is suffering as well, and it is in Indonesia's interest as much as ours to deal with the companies that are causing these problems,” he said.

Shanmugam also expressed appreciation for Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his administration’s efforts in trying to solve the haze problem. On Singapore’s strategy to take companies linked to the haze to task, Shanmugam noted that the Homefront Crisis Ministerial Committee (HCMC) which he chairs is looking into issues arising from the haze situation, which includes dealing with these companies. He reiterated that Singapore will look beyond individual companies involved, or hold land on concessions, but instead target the larger corporations who are behind these firms. At the same time, it will also explore a wider range of punitive measures that will impact these companies’ interests both in Singapore and abroad, while maintaining pressure on the responsible parties even after the haze passes. “We want to make clear that the companies cannot simply wait things out.”

Aqil Hamzah is a transport journalist at The Straits Times. He is also interested in issues related to crime and technology.

Zaihan Mohamed Yusof is senior crime correspondent at The Straits Times.

Environmental issues

高级部长尚穆根表示，政府机构正在考虑采取法律、监管和经济措施，在关键之处向这些公司施加压力。

《海峡时报》摄影：JASON QUAH

扎伊汉·穆罕默德·优素福

发布于2026年10月19日下午5:00

更新于2026年10月19日下午5:00

新加坡——10月19日，高级部长尚穆根誓言将动用新加坡所能掌握的“一切法律和监管手段”来对抗与该地区令人窒息的雾霾有关的公司，并警告那些不服从的公司不要低估政府采取行动的决心。

他说，政府机构正在考虑采取法律、监管和经济措施，在关键方面向这些公司施加压力，包括影响它们的盈利能力、融资渠道和投资者关系。

尚穆根表示，为确保进一步合作，现有法律将紧急修改或出台新法律。他还补充说，即使雾霾消散后，当局也将继续追查此事。在视察兀兰关卡期间，他对记者说：“一些公司可能会试图推卸责任。他们可能认为很难找到证据，也可能认为自己可以逃避审查。但他们不应低估新加坡政府采取行动的决心。”他指出，公司不能一边声称自己对环境负责，一边又拒绝接受审查。“他们不能粉饰自己的行为。他们也不应抱有任何幻想，以为可以等到雾霾消散后就恢复正常营业。”

新加坡国家安全统筹部长兼内政部长尚穆根也对被发现与印尼烟霾焚烧事件有关联的新加坡上市公司发表了措辞强硬的批评。他表示：“公司不能利用不同的公司架构玩捉迷藏。他们也不应该妄想因为证据和行为发生在印尼，就能逃脱在新加坡的责任。”此前，新加坡国家环境局已向七家与烟霾有关的公司发出法律通知。这七家公司分别是：Bumi Andalas Permai、Bumi Mekar Hijau、Paramitra Mulia Langgeng、Sumatera Alam Anugerah、Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries、Hutan Lestari Raya 和 Bangkanesia，它们都经营纸浆林种植园。

《海峡时报》的调查发现，其中四人与新加坡有关联。

Bumi Andalas Permai、Bumi Mekar Hijau 和 Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries 均为亚洲浆纸业（Asia Pulp and Paper）的供应商，而亚洲浆纸业在新加坡设有分支机构。这三家公司在 2015 年雾霾危机期间均收到新加坡国家环境局 (NEA) 的类似通知，目前案件仍在调查中。

与此同时，Paramitra Mulia Langgeng是Sungai Budi集团的子公司，该集团由新加坡永久居民Oey Widarto领导。该集团副主席Santoso Winata也是新加坡永久居民。10月19日，新加坡国家环境局（NEA）表示，将向另外三家公司发出通知：亚洲浆纸业（Asia Pulp and Paper）的供应商Buana Megatama Jaya、Mananjung Hayak和Baratama Putra Perkasa。尚穆根指出，调查显示亚洲浆纸业从三家已收到NEA通知的公司采购产品，并表示：“我们将对此事进行深入调查。”他还提到在新加坡交易所上市的第一资源公司（First Resources），该公司在10月16日的一份声明中表示，一些火灾源于其管辖范围之外，之后蔓延至其管理区域。声明称，尽管该公司采取了灭火措施，但一些火灾规模过大、蔓延速度过快，最终无法控制。尚穆根措辞强硬地批评道：“这样的声明，无论措辞多么精妙，都远远不够。”他表示，政府将要求查明全部事实，公正地考虑所有证据，并根据事实采取行动。尚穆根称，新加坡交易所（SGX）已就七家新加坡上市公司的运营情况以及与烟霾的潜在关联向其发出问询，这七家公司分别是：金光农业资源（Golden Agri Resources）、布米塔玛农业（Bumitama Agri）、第一资源（First Resources）、丰益国际（Wilmar）、肯卡纳农业（Kencana Agri）、印尼食品农业（Indofood Agri）和TSH资源（TSH Resources）。他还提到，曾向可能与火灾有关的公司提供贷款的银行，必须考虑由此产生的环境和法律风险。

新加坡金融管理局负责监管银行，部长补充道，该机构“显然将对银行行使监管管辖权，以确保它们妥善管理风险”。尚穆根部长表示：“我们还将审查那些据称与雾霾有关的公司是否在新加坡享受任何利益”，并举例说明了政府拨款和激励措施。他指出，由于此类利益取决于合法合规和负责任的行为，因此有必要审查这些公司是否仍然符合这些标准。当被问及这些行动是否会对新加坡和印尼之间的关系产生外交影响时，尚穆根部长表示，处理相关公司符合两国的利益。他强调，不作为并非新加坡的行事方式，并指出如果立法者抱持这种想法，“新加坡将不复存在”。他表示：“我们认为不应存在任何双边问题。印尼民众也深受其害，处理造成这些问题的公司符合印尼和我们两国的利益。”

尚穆根也对印尼总统普拉博沃·苏比安托及其政府为解决雾霾问题所做的努力表示赞赏。关于新加坡追究与雾霾相关的企业责任的策略，尚穆根指出，他担任主席的国土危机部长级委员会（HCMC）正在调查雾霾引发的问题，包括如何处理这些企业。他重申，新加坡不会只关注涉事的个别公司或特许经营土地持有者，而是会将目标锁定在这些企业背后的大型集团。与此同时，新加坡还将探索一系列更广泛的惩罚措施，以影响这些企业在新加坡和海外的利益，并在雾霾消散后继续对相关责任方施加压力。“我们想明确表示，这些企业不能坐视不管。”

阿基尔·哈姆扎是《海峡时报》的交通记者。他也对犯罪和科技相关议题感兴趣。

Zaihan Mohamed Yusof 是《海峡时报》的高级犯罪记者。

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