Five Singapore firms agree to independent scrutiny over links to Indonesia fires, haze

Five Singapore-registered companies have agreed to cooperate with assessments regarding potential links to regional fires that caused transboundary haze across the island, according to a statement released by the National Environment Agency (NEA) on October 31. The companies, including Wilmar International, Golden Agri-Resources, APP Company, APP Company (China), and Indofood Agri Resources, have agreed to engage assessors and participate in the assessment process.

Kencana Agri, which has expressed willingness to cooperate voluntarily, is also expected to engage assessors. NEA welcomed the public statement made by First Resources Limited, which stated its preparedness to engage an investigation firm and a law firm to assess any involvement or connection between the group and the fires in Indonesia that contributed to transboundary haze affecting Singapore.

NEA emphasized that the companies' voluntary participation in the assessment process would help establish facts related to their potential involvement in the fires causing the haze.