S'pore will go after haze-linked companies with 'every legal and regulatory lever': Shanmugam

Companies linked to ongoing wildfires in Indonesia that have blanketed several Southeast Asian countries in hazardous haze have been urged to cooperate with the Singapore Government. Those that refuse could face pressure on their financing, investor standing and bottom line, Senior Minister K Shanmugam warned.

"We will use every legal and regulatory lever at our disposal to exert pressure where it matters," Shanmugam said on Monday (Oct 19), as he spoke to the media during a visit to Woodlands Checkpoint.

Shanmugam, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, noted that the Singapore Exchange (SGX) has asked questions of seven agri-related companies listed in Singapore.

The seven companies are: Golden-Agri Resources, Bumitama Agri, First Resources, Wilmar, Kencana Agri, Indofood Agri, and TSH Resources.

When asked what could happen if these companies refused to cooperate, Shanmugam cautioned that they should not underestimate the Singapore Government's determination to act.

"If companies refuse to cooperate, regardless of whether they have a presence in Singapore, or do not have a presence in Singapore, we will use every legal and regulatory lever at our disposal to exert pressure where it matters," the senior minister said.

He added that this includes their bottom-line, access to financing and standing with investors.

If necessary, the Government could also amend existing legislation or introduce new laws on an urgent basis to ensure greater cooperation, Shanmugam said.

Companies cannot 'greenwash' behaviour

The senior minister also emphasised that companies cannot simply claim to be environmentally responsible, while refusing to subject themselves to scrutiny.

"Their claims must be backed by evidence, not just words. They cannot greenwash their behaviour," he said.

Shanmugam also warned such companies that they cannot simply wait for the haze to clear, and return to what he described as "business as usual".

"We will pursue this matter for as long as it takes," he said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, along with other agencies, have taken several steps to deal with the ground situation , including distribution of N95 haze masks to vulnerable Singaporeans.

At the same time, the authorities are examining what further action can be taken against companies that may be linked to the fires.

The Homefront Crisis Ministerial Committee , chaired by Shanmugam, is also looking into the issue.

"Dealing with these companies is one of those issues," Shanmugam said.

Shanmugam said the haze was not simply an act of nature, but a problem driven by companies pursuing profits, adding that those responsible must be held accountable.

While speaking to the media, the senior minister also referred to comments made by the Indonesian Head of Government Communications Agency Syahganda Nainggolan, who told media there on Oct 10 that Indonesia also sends oxygen to Malaysia and Singapore .

Shanmugam said it was "not right" to make such remarks when the region was suffering from haze caused by companies breaching regulations in Indonesia.

"Frankly, it is not right to say this when this entire region is suffering as a result of the bad behaviour of companies breaching regulations in Indonesia," Shanmugam said, pointing out that Indonesians are suffering the most.

新加坡政府敦促与印尼持续肆虐的森林大火相关的企业与政府合作。这场大火已导致东南亚多个国家笼罩在有害的烟雾之中。高级部长尚穆根警告说，拒绝合作的企业可能会面临融资、投资者地位和盈利方面的压力。

“我们将利用一切法律和监管手段，在关键之处施加压力，”尚穆根周一（10月19日）在视察兀兰关卡时对媒体表示。

尚穆根同时也是国家安全统筹部长和内政部长，他指出新加坡交易所（SGX）已向七家在新加坡上市的农业相关公司提出了问题。

这七家公司分别是：Golden-Agri Resources、Bumitama Agri、First Resources、Wilmar、Kencana Agri、Indofood Agri 和 TSH Resources。

当被问及如果这些公司拒绝合作会发生什么时，尚穆根警告说，他们不应低估新加坡政府采取行动的决心。

这位高级部长表示：“如果企业拒绝合作，无论它们在新加坡是否有分支机构，我们都将动用一切法律和监管手段，在关键之处施加压力。”

他还补充说，这包括他们的盈利能力、融资渠道以及在投资者中的地位。

尚穆根表示，如有必要，政府也可以紧急修改现有法律或出台新法律，以确保更大的合作。

公司不能“漂绿”其行为

这位高级部长还强调，企业不能仅仅声称自己对环境负责，却拒绝接受审查。

“他们的说法必须有证据支持，而不仅仅是口头承诺。他们不能粉饰自己的行为，”他说。

尚穆根还警告这些公司，他们不能只是等待雾霾散去，然后恢复他所说的“一切照旧”。

他说：“我们将追查此事，直至真相大白。”

与此同时，永续发展及环境部与其他机构一道，采取了多项措施应对实际情况，包括向弱势新加坡人分发 N95 防霾口罩。

与此同时，当局正在调查可以对可能与火灾有关的公司采取哪些进一步行动。

由尚穆根担任主席的国土安全危机部长级委员会也在调查此事。

“与这些公司打交道是其中一个问题，”尚穆根说。

尚穆根表示，雾霾并非单纯的自然现象，而是企业追求利润所造成的问题，并补充说，必须追究相关责任人的责任。

这位高级部长在接受媒体采访时还提到了印尼政府通信局局长沙赫甘达·奈因戈兰 (Syahganda Nainggolan) 于 10 月 10 日向当地媒体发表的评论，称印尼也向马来西亚和新加坡输送氧气。

尚穆根表示，在印尼一些公司违反法规导致该地区遭受雾霾困扰之际，发表这样的言论是“不合适的”。

“坦白说，当整个地区都因为印尼公司违反法规的不良行为而遭受损失时，这样说是不合适的，”尚穆根说道，并指出印尼人受到的损失最大。