All ten Singapore firms acknowledge NEA haze law notices, most pledge cooperation
Ten Singapore-based oil palm and forestry companies have confirmed receipt of National Environment Agency notices under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, with most stating they will cooperate with the agency’s information request.
All ten Singapore-based companies that received notices under the Republic’s haze law have confirmed receipt of the National Environment Agency’s (NEA) request for information on their links to fires in Indonesia. The firms, which operate in the oil palm or forestry sectors and have land concessions or related subsidiaries in Indonesia, were notified on Oct. 23.
Three companies – Indofood Agri Resources, TSH Global Plantation and TSH Oversea – did not explicitly state they would cooperate, while the others said they would comply. TSH Global Plantation and TSH Oversea acknowledged the notices through Malaysian parent TSH Resources on Oct. 26, noting that they were reviewing the notice and would engage with the agency.
"We are reviewing the notice and will engage with the agency accordingly," the filing said.
Kencana Agri, owned by the Maknawi family, filed an acknowledgement on Oct. 25, pledging full cooperation and promising further announcements if material developments arise. The filing was signed by executive vice-chairperson Ratna Maknawi.
Indofood Agri Resources also filed on Oct. 25, confirming receipt of the notice and indicating it would provide more details when material updates become available. The filing was signed by secretary Mak Mei Yook.
Wilmar International was the first to announce its intention to comply, filing a response shortly after the notices were issued. First Resources, Bumitama Agri, Asia Pulp & Paper and Golden Agri International subsequently filed similar acknowledgements, each stating they would supply the requested documents and information.
Under Section 10 of the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, representatives of non-compliant firms face fines of up to S$5,000, a jail term of up to one month, or both. Entities found guilty of causing or contributing to haze can be fined up to S$100,000 per day, capped at S$2 million.
The NEA’s notices followed earlier preventive-measure notices issued to ten Indonesian companies on Oct. 16 and 19 under Section 9 of the Act, which sought information on fire-prevention efforts but carried no penalties for non-response.