S’pore-listed First Resources pledges cooperation with authorities over haze

The Singapore Exchange-listed company said it welcomed a thorough, evidence-based examination of the ongoing fires and haze situation.

ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

Published Oct 20, 2026, 09:58 AM

Updated Oct 20, 2026, 12:32 PM

SINGAPORE – Palm oil producer First Resources has pledged to cooperate fully with any inquiries or investigations by the authorities, following statements that Singapore intends to pursue all available legal and regulatory measures against companies linked to the current haze.

In an Oct 20 press statement, the Singapore Exchange (SGX)-listed company said it welcomed a thorough, evidence-based examination of the ongoing fires and haze situation, and reiterated that it strictly enforces a longstanding zero-burning policy across its operations.

It added that it is confident that an objective review of the available evidence would show that it does not clear land using fire, either directly or indirectly.

In its statement, First Resources said assessments of where fires originated should be based on verified facts, scientific evidence and a comprehensive understanding of conditions on the ground.

The group, which has a market value of $6 billion in Singapore, welcomed documentary and technical reviews, as well as on-the-ground verification where necessary, to provide an accurate picture of the situation.

Evidence may include the chronology of hot-spot detections and fire progression based on satellite imagery, documentary evidence of the actions taken to suppress and extinguish fires, and spatial analyses demonstrating the continued protection of conservation areas, it said.

First Resources also said it was open to constructive suggestions from regulators, customers, investors, civil society organisations and other industry stakeholders on strengthening fire prevention and management.

“Addressing the complex challenge of transboundary haze requires sustained collaboration among governments, companies, local communities and other stakeholders,” it said.

First Resources ’ statement comes after the company said on Oct 16 that fires from outside its boundaries had spread into areas under its management, and had not originated from its concessions.

It said some fires had become too large and fast-moving to contain despite its firefighting efforts.

Other SGX-listed companies, including Golden Agri Resources, Bumitama Agri, Wilmar International, Kencana Agri, Indofood Agri, have also issued similar statements after receiving queries from SGX RegCo over their operations and potential ties to the haze. TSH Resources has yet to respond.

Senior Minister K. Shanmugam told reporters on Oct 19 that statements from the companies – no matter how well drafted, are not good enough.

Shanmugam, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, added that the Government will “ask for the full facts, consider all evidence fairly and act based on the facts”.

Kang Wan Chern is deputy business editor at The Straits Times.

这家在新加坡交易所上市的公司表示，欢迎对持续发生的火灾和雾霾情况进行彻底、基于证据的调查。

《海峡时报》摄影：郭志雄

发布于 2026 年 10 月 20 日上午 9:58

更新于2026年10月20日下午12:32

新加坡——棕榈油生产商第一资源公司承诺将全力配合当局的任何询问或调查。此前有声明称，新加坡打算对与当前雾霾有关的公司采取一切可用的法律和监管措施。

这家在新加坡交易所 (SGX) 上市的公司在 10 月 20 日的新闻稿中表示，欢迎对持续发生的火灾和烟霾情况进行彻底、基于证据的调查，并重申该公司在其运营中严格执行长期以来的零燃烧政策。

该公司还表示，相信对现有证据进行客观审查后会发现，该公司并未直接或间接使用火来清理土地。

第一资源公司在声明中表示，对火灾起源地点的评估应基于已核实的事实、科学证据以及对现场情况的全面了解。

该集团在新加坡的市值达 60 亿美元，欢迎进行文件和技术审查，并在必要时进行实地核实，以提供对情况的准确描述。

报告称，证据可能包括基于卫星图像的热点探测和火灾蔓延的时间顺序、为抑制和扑灭火灾而采取的行动的书面证据，以及证明保护区持续受到保护的空间分析。

第一资源公司还表示，愿意接受监管机构、客户、投资者、民间社会组织和其他行业利益相关者就加强消防预防和管理提出的建设性建议。

报告称：“应对跨境雾霾这一复杂挑战需要各国政府、企业、当地社区和其他利益相关者之间持续的合作。”

第一资源公司发表声明之前，该公司于 10 月 16 日表示，来自其边界之外的火灾已经蔓延到其管理的区域，而且这些火灾并非源于其特许经营区。

声明称，尽管消防部门尽力扑救，但一些火势已经蔓延过大，难以控制。

其他在新加坡交易所上市的公司，包括金光农业资源有限公司（Golden Agri Resources）、布米塔玛农业有限公司（Bumitama Agri）、丰益国际有限公司（Wilmar International）、肯卡纳农业有限公司（Kencana Agri）和印多食品农业有限公司（Indofood Agri），在收到新加坡交易所监管公司（SGX RegCo）关于其运营及与雾霾潜在关联性的问询后，也发布了类似的声明。TSH Resources尚未作出回应。

10月19日，高级部长尚穆根告诉记者，各公司发表的声明——无论措辞多么严谨——都不够好。

尚穆根同时也是国家安全统筹部长和内政部长，他补充说，政府将“要求了解全部事实，公平地考虑所有证据，并根据事实采取行动”。

康婉珍是《海峡时报》商业版副主编。