Advertise
Singapore significantly broadened its investigation on Friday into corporate entities linked to forest fires in Indonesia. The National Environmental Agency (NEA) has requested detailed information from 10 locally-based firms regarding their strategies to mitigate blazes that have blanketed the region in hazardous toxic haze.
The city-state has intensified its regulatory measures to address the months-long environmental crisis, vowing to pursue legal action against companies found responsible for fires that have degraded regional air quality to some of the lowest levels globally.
Over the past week, Singaporean authorities issued formal notices to 10 foreign-based companies. These notices demand the immediate deployment of firefighting teams, a total cessation of land-clearing by fire in Indonesia, and the submission of detailed corporate data. Specifically, the NEA is scrutinising the linkages between these firms and their associated subsidiaries in both Indonesia and Singapore.
In addition to the foreign entities, the NEA confirmed late Friday that it is seeking information from 10 Singapore-registered companies operating in the palm oil and forestry industries with land holdings in Indonesia. The request focuses on the specific locations of land concessions, corporate affiliations, and the efficacy of firefighting and preventative measures implemented on-site.
To strengthen its investigative capacity, Singapore announced the formation of a specialist expert panel. This panel will include legal experts, auditors, and private investigators with specific skills in cross-border inquiries. The move comes as Indonesia’s dry season fires are exacerbated by a strong El Niño cycle. Data from the Nusantara Atlas deforestation monitor indicates that approximately two million hectares of forest and peatland have burned this year.
While civil society groups frequently identify 'hotspots' within supplier plantations as evidence of corporate negligence, several implicated firms have denied any wrongdoing. Among those named in the latest NEA update are First Resources, which is listed on the Singapore Exchange, and Asia Pulp and Paper. The investigation continues while major regional hubs like Kuala Lumpur and Singapore remain ranked among the world's most polluted cities.
Source: AFP