Singapore ready to strengthen laws against haze-linked firms, pursue them 'for as long as it takes': Shanmugam

Singapore is weighing regulatory, legal and economic levers against firms behind the haze and could amend or introduce laws “on an urgent basis to ensure further cooperation”, says Senior Minister K Shanmugam.

Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam, and Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and for Health Rahayu Mahzam, speak to the media at Woodlands Checkpoint on Oct 19, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Ili Mansor)

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SINGAPORE: Singapore will use every legal, regulatory and economic lever at its disposal against companies responsible for the haze and pursue them for "as long as it takes", said Senior Minister K Shanmugam on Monday (Oct 19).

Singapore is also ready to strengthen laws against such companies "on an urgent basis", said Mr Shanmugam, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Woodlands Checkpoint, the senior minister noted that the firms responsible for the haze 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," said Mr Shanmugam, when asked about companies who claim that the issue is a complex one.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less "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, including on their bottom lines, including on their access to financing, and including on their standing with investors." Singapore will amend current legislation or introduce new laws “to ensure further cooperation” if necessary, Mr Shanmugam said without stating a timeline.

"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, including on their bottom lines, including on their access to financing, and including on their standing with investors."

Singapore will amend current legislation or introduce new laws “to ensure further cooperation” if necessary, Mr Shanmugam said without stating a timeline.

The senior minister said Singapore will “sustain pressure” on responsible companies even after the haze passes.

These firms cannot claim to be environmentally responsible while refusing to subject themselves to scrutiny, he added.

“Their claims must be backed by evidence, not just words. 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.

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

Preventive measure notices will be issued to three more companies in Indonesia , said Minister for Sustainability and Environment Grace Fu, who was also present at Woodlands Checkpoint on Monday.

The companies – PT Buana Megatama Jaya, PT Mananjung Hayak, and PT Baratama Putra Perkasa – will be issued these notices over fires in Kalimantan that may have contributed to the haze in Singapore.

This will bring the total number of firms issued the notices under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act to 10, after the National Environment Agency said on Oct 16 that similar notices will be issued to seven other companies in Indonesia .

On Monday, Mr Shanmugam also said that Singapore appreciates the strong stance Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's administration is adopting towards the haze issue, including taking steps that are "quite unprecedented".

"CANNOT PLAY HIDE AND SEEK"

Setting out what levers Singapore can pull against errant firms, Mr Shanmugam said Singapore will look beyond the individual companies that hold the concessions, but also into large groups and "persons who may ultimately control them".

"If there are linkages, we will try and go after these groups as well," he said.

For example, he noted that investigations show that Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) buys from three of the companies that NEA has sent preventive measure notices to.

Smoke-source points also seem to be associated with Singapore-listed First Resources and Bumitama Agri, as well as First Borneo Plantations, said Mr Shanmugam.

He noted that First Resources, for instance, has issued a detailed statement on its zero-burning policy and firefighting efforts, but added that statements alone are insufficient and must be backed by evidence.

"We will ask for the full facts and we will act based on the facts. We will consider all the evidence fairly," he said.

"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."

On what actions can be taken against companies with possible links to the haze, Mr Shanmugam said that the Singapore Exchange has asked questions of seven agri-companies listed in Singapore.

These companies are Golden Agri-Resources, Bumitama Agri, First Resources, Wilmar International, Kencana Agri, Indofood Agri and TSH Resources.

Kencana Agri said in response to SGX queries last week that Indonesian authorities have launched a preliminary inquiry into a fire incident at its subsidiary.

The company added in the bourse filing that based on information currently available, its subsidiary did not carry out land clearing or land preparation in the affected area.

Other listed companies on Friday including Golden Agri-Resources and Wilmar International, also issued statements to distance themselves from the fires and haze.

On Monday, Mr Shanmugam also noted that banks have lent money to companies with agricultural operations.

"If these companies have a potential connection to the fires, then the banks have to consider risks arising from the environment and legal issues," said Mr Shanmugam.

"The banks have asked these companies several questions and MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore), as the regulator, will obviously have supervisory jurisdiction over the banks to make sure that they manage their risks properly."

Mr Shanmugam added that Singapore will also examine whether or not companies linked to the haze are enjoying any benefits in Singapore in terms of government grants or incentives.

"These benefits are contingent on lawful and responsible conduct – so we will need to see if they still meet the bar," he said.

Legal experts previously told CNA that there could be diplomatic implication s if Singapore decides to pursue legal actions against errant companies, citing some unhappiness in Indonesia back in 2015 when Singapore tried to use the Act.

Mr Shanmugam said that it is not Singapore's approach to "shiver in our shoes before we take any action to protect our own people".

He then reiterated his support for the actions President Prabowo and his administration have taken to tackle the haze.

"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.

"Our actions against companies which we consider are responsible, are aligned with the broad policies as announced by the Indonesian administration under President Prabowo," he said.

"In fact, we hope to get full cooperation from Indonesia in going after the companies, and likewise, we have also offered our full cooperation in assisting to put out the fires, insofar as our assistance is required."

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新加坡高级部长尚穆根表示，新加坡正在权衡监管、法律和经济手段来对付那些制造雾霾的公司，并可能“紧急”修改或出台法律，以确保进一步合作。

2026年10月19日，永续发展及环境部长傅海燕、国家安全统筹部长兼内政部长尚穆根以及数码发展及新闻部兼卫生部政务部长拉哈尤·马赫扎姆在兀兰关卡接受媒体采访。（图片：CNA/Ili Mansor）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：新加坡高级部长尚穆根周一（10月19日）表示，新加坡将动用一切法律、监管和经济手段，对造成雾霾的公司进行追究，并“不惜一切代价”追查到底。

尚穆根先生表示，新加坡也准备“紧急”加强对这类公司的法律监管。尚穆根先生同时也是国家安全统筹部长和内政部长。

这位高级部长在视察兀兰关卡时对记者表示，造成雾霾的公司可能会试图否认责任。

当被问及一些公司声称这个问题很复杂时，尚穆根先生表示：“他们可能认为很难获得证据，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。”

CNA游戏 猜词游戏 逐行破解单词 流行词游戏 用给定的字母组成单词 迷你数独 小谜题，脑力挑战 迷你填字游戏 小方格，大挑战 单词搜索 尽可能多地找出单词 显示更多 显示更少 “如果公司拒绝合作，无论它们是否在新加坡设有分支机构，我们都将动用一切法律和监管手段，在关键之处施加压力，包括影响它们的盈利能力、融资渠道以及投资者关系。” 尚穆根先生表示，如有必要，新加坡将修订现行法律或出台新法律“以确保进一步合作”，但他并未给出具体时间表。

“如果企业拒绝合作，无论它们是否在新加坡设有分支机构，我们都将动用一切法律和监管手段，在关键之处施加压力，包括影响它们的盈利能力、融资渠道以及投资者对它们的看法。”

尚穆根先生表示，如有必要，新加坡将修改现行法律或出台新法律“以确保进一步合作”，但他没有给出具体时间表。

这位高级部长表示，即使雾霾过后，新加坡仍将“持续向负责任的企业施压”。

他还补充说，这些公司不能一边声称自己对环境负责，一边又拒绝接受审查。

“他们的说法必须有证据支持，而不仅仅是空谈。他们不能粉饰自己的行为。他们也不应抱有任何幻想，以为可以简单地等待迷雾散去，然后恢复往常的经营模式。”

他说：“我们将追查此事，直至真相大白。”

可持续发展与环境部长傅海燕周一在兀兰关卡表示，将向印尼另外三家公司发出预防措施通知。

这些公司——PT Buana Megatama Jaya、PT Mananjung Hayak 和 PT Baratama Putra Perkasa——将因加里曼丹的火灾而收到通知，这些火灾可能导致新加坡出现雾霾。

这将使根据《跨境烟霾污染法》收到通知的公司总数达到 10 家。此前，国家环境局于 10 月 16 日表示，将向印度尼西亚的另外 7 家公司发出类似的通知。

周一，尚穆根先生还表示，新加坡赞赏印尼总统普拉博沃·苏比安托政府对雾霾问题采取的强硬立场，包括采取“史无前例”的措施。

“不能玩捉迷藏”

尚穆根先生阐述了新加坡可以对违规企业采取哪些措施，他表示，新加坡不仅会关注持有特许经营权的单个公司，还会关注大型集团和“最终可能控制这些公司的人员”。

他说：“如果存在关联，我们也会尝试追查这些组织。”

例如，他指出，调查显示，亚洲浆纸业（APP）从国家环境局已发出预防措施通知的三家公司采购产品。

尚穆根先生表示，烟雾源头似乎也与新加坡上市的第一资源公司和布米塔玛农业公司以及第一婆罗洲种植园公司有关。

他指出，例如，第一资源公司已就其零燃烧政策和消防工作发表了详细声明，但他补充说，仅凭声明是不够的，必须有证据支持。

他说：“我们会要求了解全部事实，并根据事实采取行动。我们会公正地考虑所有证据。”

“企业不能利用不同的公司架构玩捉迷藏。它们也不应希望因为证据和行为发生在印度尼西亚，就能逃避在新加坡的责任。”

关于可以对可能与雾霾有关的公司采取哪些行动，尚穆根先生表示，新加坡交易所已向七家在新加坡上市的农业公司询问了相关问题。

这些公司包括 Golden Agri-Resources、Bumitama Agri、First Resources、Wilmar International、Kencana Agri、Indofood Agri 和 TSH Resources。

Kencana Agri 上周在回复新加坡交易所的问询时表示，印尼当局已对其子公司发生的火灾事故展开初步调查。

该公司在提交给证券交易所的文件中补充说，根据目前可获得的信息，其子公司并未在受影响地区进行土地清理或土地准备工作。

周五，包括金光农业资源有限公司和丰益国际在内的其他上市公司也发表声明，与火灾和烟雾撇清关系。

周一，尚穆根先生还指出，银行已经向从事农业业务的公司提供了贷款。

“如果这些公司与火灾有潜在联系，那么银行就必须考虑由此产生的环境风险和法律问题，”尚穆根先生说。

“各家银行已向这些公司提出了一些问题，而作为监管机构的新加坡金融管理局（MAS）显然将对这些银行行使监管权，以确保它们妥善管理风险。”

尚穆根先生补充说，新加坡还将调查与雾霾有关的公司是否在新加坡享受到政府拨款或奖励方面的任何好处。

“这些福利取决于合法和负责任的行为——所以我们需要看看它们是否仍然符合标准，”他说。

法律专家此前告诉亚洲新闻台，如果新加坡决定对违规公司采取法律行动，可能会产生外交影响，并指出2015年新加坡试图使用该法案时，印尼方面对此感到不满。

尚穆根先生表示，新加坡的做法不是“在采取任何行动保护我们自己的人民之前，先畏缩不前”。

随后，他重申了对普拉博沃总统及其政府为解决雾霾问题所采取的行动的支持。

他说：“我们认为不应该存在任何双边问题。印尼民众也深受其害，处理造成这些问题的公司符合印尼的利益，也符合我们的利益。”

他说：“我们对那些我们认为负有责任的公司采取的行动，与普拉博沃总统领导下的印尼政府宣布的总体政策是一致的。”

“事实上，我们希望在追究这些公司的责任方面得到印尼的全力配合；同样，我们也已表示，只要需要，我们将全力协助扑灭火灾。”

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