Singapore to set up specialist panel to investigate firms potentially linked to transboundary haze

The specialist panel will comprise law firms, audit firms and investigative firms with expertise in conducting cross-border inquiries and investigations, says the Ministry of Law.

A man props his leg up on a seat while pictured against the Supreme Court and parliament buildings shrouded in haze, Oct 14, 2026. (File photo: CNA/Wallace Woon)

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SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Law (MinLaw) said on Friday (Oct 23) that the Singapore government would set up a specialist panel to probe firms that may be responsible for, or have contributed to, the fires causing haze in Singapore. The specialist panel will comprise law firms, audit firms and investigative firms with expertise in conducting cross-border inquiries and investigations, said MinLaw.

The move comes after the haze returned to Singapore this year, causing stretches of unhealthy air quality since Sep 4.

"The government has announced that it will seek to identify and hold accountable companies that may be responsible for, or have contributed to, the fires causing haze in Singapore," said MinLaw in a press release.

"The conduct of local and foreign companies, their corporate relationships and supply chains, will be examined to establish whether they have been involved in causing or condoning the fires that caused or contributed to the haze." "The government will require these companies to provide complete access to information and other relevant facts about their operations, supply chains and corporate group structures to satisfy the government that the companies are not in any way involved in causing or condoning the fires," said MinLaw.

Companies identified by the government will be required to engage professionals from the panel to conduct thorough inquiries into their operations, corporate relationships and supply chains, and to submit thorough audits to the government.

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 They will also be expected to cooperate fully and provide unfettered access to relevant information and their operations as may be necessary for the inquiries, said MinLaw "The panel will help the government establish the facts, including where complex corporate structures and commercial arrangements span multiple jurisdictions," it added. Davinder Singh Chambers, which specialises in dispute resolution and international arbitration, has been appointed to advise on coordinating the work done by the panel experts to make sure the necessary inquiries and investigations are properly conducted across different jurisdictions, said MinLaw. "Mr Davinder Singh SC has extensive experience in cross-border corporate investigations and complex legal structures, and will provide specialist advice and guidance on the conduct of the inquiries," it added. The ministery said the findings of the inquiries will be assessed by the relevant government agencies and the Attorney-General’s Chambers. "Meanwhile other regulatory agencies in Singapore, including MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore) and NEA (National Environmental Agency) are following up on this matter too. Further details will be released next week," it said.

They will also be expected to cooperate fully and provide unfettered access to relevant information and their operations as may be necessary for the inquiries, said MinLaw

"The panel will help the government establish the facts, including where complex corporate structures and commercial arrangements span multiple jurisdictions," it added.

Davinder Singh Chambers, which specialises in dispute resolution and international arbitration, has been appointed to advise on coordinating the work done by the panel experts to make sure the necessary inquiries and investigations are properly conducted across different jurisdictions, said MinLaw.

"Mr Davinder Singh SC has extensive experience in cross-border corporate investigations and complex legal structures, and will provide specialist advice and guidance on the conduct of the inquiries," it added.

The ministery said the findings of the inquiries will be assessed by the relevant government agencies and the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

"Meanwhile other regulatory agencies in Singapore, including MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore) and NEA (National Environmental Agency) are following up on this matter too. Further details will be released next week," it said.

Senior Minister K Shanmugam had warned on Monday that Singapore would 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".

He also said then that the country was ready to strengthen its laws against such companies "on an urgent basis".

Earlier this month, Singapore said it would issue preventative measures notices to 10 companies in Indonesia under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act over fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra that may have contributed to haze in Singapore.

Under the notices, the companies will be required to deploy firefighting personnel to extinguish fires or prevent them from spreading on land they own or occupy.

They must also stop any ongoing burning activities, refrain from starting new ones, and submit action plans to Singapore's National Environment Agency detailing measures to put out fires and prevent them from recurring.

Speaking on what levers Singapore can pull against errant firms, Mr Shanmugam said on Monday that the country will look beyond the individual companies that hold 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.

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法律部表示，专家小组将由具有跨境调查专业知识的律师事务所、审计公司和调查公司组成。

2026年10月14日，一名男子将腿翘在椅子上，背景是笼罩在薄雾中的最高法院和国会大厦。（资料照片：CNA/Wallace Woon）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：新加坡律政部周五（10月23日）表示，新加坡政府将成立一个专家小组，调查可能对造成新加坡烟霾的火灾负有责任或有所贡献的公司。律政部称，该专家小组将由律师事务所、审计公司和调查公司组成，这些公司需具备开展跨境调查的专业知识。

此举是在新加坡今年再次出现雾霾天气之后采取的，自 9 月 4 日以来，雾霾天气导致空气质量持续不健康。

“政府已宣布将查明并追究可能对新加坡造成烟霾的火灾负有责任或促成此事的公司的责任，”律政部在一份新闻稿中表示。

“我们将审查本地和外国公司的行为、企业关系和供应链，以确定它们是否参与引发或纵容了导致或加剧烟霾的火灾。” 律政部表示，“政府将要求这些公司提供关于其运营、供应链和企业集团结构的完整信息和其他相关事实，以使政府确信这些公司没有以任何方式参与引发或纵容火灾。”

政府认定的公司将需要聘请专家组成员对其运营、公司关系和供应链进行彻底调查，并向政府提交全面的审计报告。

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：小巧的谜题，强大的脑力挑战；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 律政部表示，他们还需全力配合，并根据调查需要，提供不受限制的相关信息和操作权限。律政部补充道：“专家组将协助政府查明事实，包括涉及多个司法管辖区的复杂公司结构和商业安排。” 律政部表示，已委任专门从事争议解决和国际仲裁的达文德·辛格律师事务所（Davinder Singh Chambers）为专家组提供协调工作方面的咨询，以确保在不同司法管辖区妥善开展必要的调查。律政部补充道：“达文德·辛格高级律师在跨境公司调查和复杂法律结构方面拥有丰富的经验，将为调查的开展提供专业建议和指导。”该部表示，调查结果将由相关政府机构和总检察署进行评估。“与此同时，新加坡其他监管机构，包括新加坡金融管理局（MAS）和国家环境局（NEA），也在跟进此事。更多详情将于下周公布。”该部表示。

律政部表示，他们还需全力配合调查，并根据调查需要，提供相关信息和操作方面的不受限制的访问权限。

声明还补充说：“该小组将帮助政府查明事实，包括复杂的公司结构和商业安排跨越多个司法管辖区的情况。”

律政部表示，专门从事争议解决和国际仲裁的达文德·辛格律师事务所已被委任为协调专家组的工作提供咨询，以确保在不同司法管辖区妥善开展必要的调查和取证工作。

声明还补充道：“达文德·辛格高级律师在跨境公司调查和复杂的法律结构方面拥有丰富的经验，将为调查的开展提供专业建议和指导。”

该部表示，调查结果将由相关政府机构和总检察署进行评估。

声明称：“与此同时，新加坡其他监管机构，包括新加坡金融管理局（MAS）和国家环境局（NEA），也在跟进此事。更多详情将于下周公布。”

新加坡高级部长尚穆根周一警告说，新加坡将动用一切法律、监管和经济手段，对付造成雾霾的公司，并追究其责任，“直到追究到底”。

他还表示，该国已准备好“紧急”加强对这类公司的法律制裁。

本月初，新加坡表示将根据《跨境烟霾污染法》向印度尼西亚的 10 家公司发出预防措施通知，原因是加里曼丹岛和苏门答腊岛的火灾可能导致新加坡出现烟霾。

根据通知，这些公司将被要求部署消防人员扑灭其拥有或占用的土地上的火灾，或防止火势蔓延。

他们还必须停止任何正在进行的焚烧活动，不得开始新的焚烧活动，并向新加坡国家环境局提交行动计划，详细说明扑灭火灾和防止火灾再次发生的措施。

谈到新加坡可以对违规企业采取哪些措施时，尚穆根先生周一表示，新加坡的关注点不仅在于持有特许经营权的单个公司，还在于大型集团和“最终可能控制这些公司的人”。

他说：“如果存在关联，我们也会尝试追查这些组织。”

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