SINGAPORE – Five Singapore-registered companies potentially linked to regional fires that led to transboundary haze have agreed to cooperate with assessments by a specialist panel that will examine and hold such firms accountable.
In a statement on Oct 31, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said it met representatives from Wilmar International, Golden Agri-Resources, APP Company, APP Company (China) and Indofood Agri Resources, which have agreed to engage assessors and cooperate in the assessment process.
The statutory board added that it will be meeting a sixth company, Kencana Agri, which has expressed willingness to voluntarily engage assessors.
The agency further welcomed a public statement issued by First Resources, which stated it was prepared to engage an investigation firm and a law firm to evaluate any potential connection to fires in Indonesia that contributed to transboundary haze.
“We look forward to receiving written confirmation of its participation in the assessment process,” said NEA.
“The companies’ voluntary participation in the assessment process will help establish the facts, including whether the companies have any involvement in or connection with the fires in Indonesia that caused or contributed to transboundary haze affecting Singapore,” it said.
This comes after representatives from 10 Singapore firms that were issued notices under Singapore’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act were summoned for a closed-door meeting on Oct 28 with Senior Minister K. Shanmugam, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu.
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