Environment · 2026-10-28 · Afternoon briefing

Singapore confronts 10 firms over cross-border haze

Singapore summoned top executives from 10 locally registered companies, including Wilmar International and Golden Agri-Resources, over their potential links to haze-causing fires in Indonesia. The rare meeting with three senior ministers follows a period earlier this month when air quality in the city-state dropped to "very unhealthy" levels. The companies have all agreed to cooperate with the investigation.

In the closed-door session, which lasted under half an hour, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and two other ministers outlined plans to strengthen laws targeting polluters, with new legislation expected in parliament as soon as next week. Singapore's National Environment Agency had already sent notices to the firms demanding details of their land concessions and fire-prevention measures in Indonesia.

Senior Minister K Shanmugam stated the government was "determined to act" and not merely seeking scapegoats. He warned that if investigations uncover wrongdoing, companies that "wish to leave Singapore" as a result would have to "accept that consequence."

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• Singapore foreign minister heads to Indonesia amid tensions over gas and haze
• Singapore-based conglomerates linked to Indonesian fires in crosshairs
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• As global scrutiny grows, Chinese firms look to call Singapore home

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