'You know the Singapore Govt. We will do what is right': What Shanmugam told leaders of firms allegedly linked to haze

Senior Cabinet members on Wednesday (Oct 28) met with leaders of companies that are involved, or have related corporate entities that are involved, in industries widely considered to have contribute to haze due to forest fires in Indonesia.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry (Trade) Gan Kim Yong, Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam, and Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu were at the meeting.

Also present were senior officials from the relevant ministries and Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, whose firm was appointed adviser to Government on haze-linked company probes .

The companies present at the meeting were Bumitama Agri, First Resources, Golden Agri-Resources, Indofood Agri Resources, Kencana Agri, TSH Resources, Wilmar International and Sinar Mas Group.

Expectations of companies

Speaking in his capacity as chairman of the Homeland Crisis Ministerial Committee (HCMC), Shanmugam opened his remarks by telling the company leaders that he had asked to meet with them personally because the haze situation is serious.

We want to be clear about the Government's position. And what we expect from each of you.

But he also emphasised that the intention was not to find scapegoats or to fix blame for public or political reasons.

You know the Singapore Government. We will do what is right.

The Senior Minister reiterated to the companies present that they must conduct their operations in a manner that does not affect Singapore or the region, pointing out that haze has affected daily lives and the well-being of Singaporeans.

Haze is caused by fires. Fires are caused by irresponsible business practices. It is not a natural phenomenon.

Shanmugam reminded them that the Government takes the situation seriously, and is determined to act.

We will pursue all available legal and regulatory avenues. We will use all the powers we have to establish responsibility, where there is responsibility. And we will hold those responsible to account. And if the facts show that there is no wrongdoing — we will proceed on that basis as well.

We will pursue all available legal and regulatory avenues.

We will use all the powers we have to establish responsibility, where there is responsibility.

And we will hold those responsible to account.

And if the facts show that there is no wrongdoing — we will proceed on that basis as well.

Turning to the Government's expectations of the companies linked to haze-causing fires in Indonesia, Shanmugam pointed out that their corporate presence here means they have a stake in Singapore, and consequently, a responsibility to ensure that their operations and supply chains do not contribute to the haze.

Where there are concerns about a company’s involvement, whether directly, or through its corporate relationships, or supply chains, we will examine the facts carefully.

He reminded them that corporate structures or third-party arrangements will not be allowed to stand in the Government's way of establishing the facts.

Turning to the notices under Section 10 of the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act , he stressed that these are formal statutory notices, not routine requests for information.

I will say this plainly. Non-compliance with Section 10 is an offence. We expect your companies to respond fully, accurately, and promptly.

I will say this plainly. Non-compliance with Section 10 is an offence.

We expect your companies to respond fully, accurately, and promptly.

Shanmugam also warned the leaders present that "substantive cooperation and transparency" are required; not merely technical compliance or lawyered responses which do not deal with the substance.

The senior minister, also a lawyer, made a name for himself in arbitration, litigation and insolvency cases.

He was also one of the youngest to be appointed senior counsel at the age of 39 in 1998.

Your companies must make every effort to provide the information needed to establish the facts.

How the assessment will be done

On the panel of experts announced last week, Shanmugam said that whether or not a company was involved in any fires that caused, or contributed to the haze, will be determined through an expert assessment.

He added that a specialist panel of assessors will be announced soon, and that Davinder Singh Chambers will serve as the Government's adviser in respect of these matters.

The firm will also oversee the coordination of the panel's work.

Companies identified will then have to engage a team comprising an investigations firm, and a law firm — to advise the investigations firm.

The list of firms will be from the panel to be appointed.

Your company is expected to give the assessors full access to information, documents, premises, people, and on your operations, corporate relations and supply chains.

He added that assessors may need to engage third parties or other experts to assist with the assessment.

This may include remote sensing, and geospatial analysts to look into satellite hotspot data, Shanmugam said.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) will take the reports to be submitted by assessors into account when assessing further steps.

If your company is not involved in any way in the fires, and your supply chains are clean, the assessment should help to establish that fact and address our concerns.

But where there are lapses, these will be dealt with, taking into account the level of cooperation given, the senior minister highlighted.

Legislative amendments

Turning to next week's Parliament sitting, Shanmugam said that amendments to the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act will be tabled, giving legal force to the framework outlined.

After the amendments are passed, NEA will be empowered to issue a formal direction to any entity suspected of contributing or being connected to the fires.

This includes directing that the entities appoint assessors, with a failure to comply constituting an offence.

The legislation will provide that assessors will have full access to documents and information, and access to sites, facilities, as they decide to be necessary... They will seek to establish whether the entity is in any way involved in causing or contributing to fires that have led to haze pollution in Singapore.

The legislation will provide that assessors will have full access to documents and information, and access to sites, facilities, as they decide to be necessary...

They will seek to establish whether the entity is in any way involved in causing or contributing to fires that have led to haze pollution in Singapore.

Shanmugam urged such companies to submit to the process and proceed with the engagement of assessors, without a formal notice issued under the law.

We will be announcing the names of CEOs and companies who voluntarily committed to going through the Assessor process. The Government will update Singaporeans of the status of the exercise.

He also cautioned that this will not be a one-off exercise, with regular evaluations and certifications by assessors being planned for.

Rounding up his remarks, Shanmugam said:

The haze has caused real harm to Singapore and Singaporeans. We cannot treat this as an unavoidable fact of life or business. The health and well-being of Singaporeans must come first.

He also reiterated the determination of the Government in pursuing the facts and evidence "for as long as it takes".

"It cannot be business as usual, even after the haze is over," Shanmugam said.

周三（10 月 28 日），内阁高级成员会见了相关企业的领导人，这些企业或关联企业实体参与了被广泛认为是造成印尼森林火灾烟雾的行业。

副总理兼能源、贸易及工业部长颜金勇、高级部长兼国家安全统筹部长兼内政部长尚穆根以及永续发展及环境部长傅海燕出席了会议。

相关部委的高级官员和高级律师达文德·辛格也出席了会议，他的律师事务所被任命为政府在与雾霾有关的公司调查方面的顾问。

出席会议的公司有：Bumitama Agri、First Resources、Golden Agri-Resources、Indofood Agri Resources、Kencana Agri、TSH Resources、Wilmar International 和 Sinar Mas Group。

公司期望

尚穆根以国土危机部长级委员会（HCMC）主席的身份发表讲话，他在讲话伊始便告诉各公司领导人，他之所以要求亲自与他们会面，是因为雾霾情况十分严重。

我们希望明确政府的立场，以及我们对你们每个人的期望。

但他还强调，此举的目的并非寻找替罪羊或出于公共或政治原因追究责任。

你们了解新加坡政府。我们会做正确的事。

高级部长向在场的公司重申，他们必须以不影响新加坡或该地区的方式开展业务，并指出雾霾已经影响了新加坡人的日常生活和福祉。

雾霾是由火灾引起的。火灾是由不负责任的商业行为引起的。它不是一种自然现象。

尚穆根提醒他们，政府高度重视这一局势，并决心采取行动。

我们将采取一切可行的法律和监管途径。我们将动用一切权力，追究责任，无论责任在何方。我们将追究相关责任人的责任。如果事实表明不存在不当行为，我们也将以此为依据继续推进。

我们将寻求一切可行的法律和监管途径。

我们将动用一切权力，追究责任所在。

我们将追究相关责任人的责任。

如果事实表明没有不当行为——我们也将以此为依据继续进行。

谈到政府对与印尼造成雾霾的火灾有关的公司的期望时，尚穆根指出，这些公司在新加坡的业务意味着它们在新加坡有利益关系，因此，它们有责任确保它们的运营和供应链不会加剧雾霾。

如果对某公司直接或通过其企业关系或供应链参与其中存在疑虑，我们将仔细审查事实。

他提醒他们，公司结构或第三方安排不得阻碍政府查明事实。

谈到《跨境烟霾污染法》第 10 条规定的通知时，他强调这些是正式的法定通知，而不是例行的信息请求。

我将直言不讳。不遵守第10条规定属于违法行为。我们希望贵公司能够全面、准确、及时地作出回应。

我直言不讳地说，不遵守第10条规定属于违法行为。

我们希望贵公司能够全面、准确、及时地作出答复。

尚穆根还警告在场的领导人，需要的是“实质性的合作和透明度”；而不仅仅是技术上的合规或不涉及实质内容的律师式回应。

这位高级部长同时也是一名律师，他在仲裁、诉讼和破产案件中声名鹊起。

1998 年，39 岁的他成为当时最年轻的高级律师之一。

贵公司必须尽一切努力提供查明事实所需的信息。

评估将如何进行

尚穆根在上周公布的专家小组中表示，一家公司是否参与了造成或加剧雾霾的火灾，将通过专家评估来确定。

他还补充说，很快就会公布专家评估小组的名单，达文德·辛格律师事务所将担任政府在这些事项上的顾问。

该公司还将负责监督小组工作的协调工作。

被认定的公司将需要聘请一个由调查公司和律师事务所组成的团队——为调查公司提供咨询。

公司名单将从即将任命的评审小组中选出。

贵公司应允许评估人员全面了解贵公司的运营、企业关系和供应链，包括信息、文件、场所、人员等。

他还补充说，评估人员可能需要聘请第三方或其他专家来协助评估。

Shanmugam表示，这可能包括遥感技术，以及让地理空间分析师研究卫星热点数据。

国家环境局（NEA）在评估后续措施时，会将评估人员提交的报告纳入考量。

如果贵公司与火灾没有任何关联，并且供应链畅通无阻，那么评估应该有助于证实这一事实并消除我们的疑虑。

但这位高级部长强调，对于出现的任何疏漏，都会考虑到各方给予的合作程度，并予以处理。

立法修正案

谈到下周的国会会议，尚穆根表示，将提交《跨境烟霾污染法》修正案，使概述的框架具有法律效力。

修正案通过后，国家环境局将有权向任何涉嫌参与或与火灾有关的实体发出正式指令。

这包括指示相关实体任命评估人员，不遵守规定即构成违法行为。

该立法将规定，评估人员有权全面查阅文件和信息，并可根据需要进入现场和设施……他们将努力查明该实体是否以任何方式参与造成或促成了导致新加坡雾霾污染的火灾。

该法案将规定，评估人员有权查阅所有文件和信息，并可根据需要进入现场和设施……

他们将调查该实体是否以任何方式参与造成或促成了导致新加坡雾霾污染的火灾。

Shanmugam敦促这些公司接受审查程序，并在未收到法律规定的正式通知的情况下继续进行评估工作。

我们将公布自愿接受评估流程的首席执行官和公司名单。政府将及时向新加坡民众通报评估流程的进展情况。

他还提醒说，这不会是一次性的活动，将会有评估员进行定期评估和认证。

尚穆根总结发言时说：

雾霾已对新加坡和新加坡人民造成切实伤害。我们不能将其视为生活或商业中不可避免的事实。新加坡人民的健康和福祉必须放在首位。

他还重申了政府“不惜一切代价”追查事实和证据的决心。

“即使雾霾散去，也不能一切照旧，”尚穆根说。