Companies outline their commitments
The commitments follow notices that Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) issued to 10 companies under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act. Senior Minister K. Shanmugam told the companies to engage a firm from a specialist panel to investigate their operations, corporate relationships and supply chains.
TSH Resources itself did not receive a notice. Two of its Singapore-incorporated subsidiaries, TSH Global Plantation and TSH Oversea, were among the recipients. In a November 2 filing with the Singapore Exchange, the mainboard-listed parent said it had written to NEA and was "very keen" to engage assessors voluntarily, with the group paying the cost.
Bumitama Agri, also listed on the mainboard, said it had likewise committed to hiring assessors from the government panel voluntarily and at its own expense. Both companies pledged cooperation in accordance with applicable laws, regulatory requirements and NEA's directions.
Kencana Agri disclosed its commitment in a November 1 filing, saying it had written to NEA on October 30 to confirm that it would cooperate under the same legal and regulatory conditions. All three companies expressed concern about the effects of the fires and haze and said they welcomed constructive engagement with authorities and independent assessors.
During morning trading on November 2, TSH Resources held at 36 cents and Kencana Agri at 48 cents. Bumitama Agri declined 3.29% to $1.47.
The assessment framework
The government announced the investigative framework on October 23, appointing Davinder Singh Chambers to advise on and coordinate cross-border inquiries into businesses potentially connected to the haze. The specialist panel brings together law firms, audit firms and investigative firms to examine companies' operations, corporate relationships and supply chains.
Companies identified as having caused or contributed to the haze must hire a team from that panel and cover its costs.
The stock exchange has also sought answers from listed businesses. According to Mongabay, Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX RegCo) questioned seven conglomerates about possible haze links: Golden Agri-Resources, Wilmar International, First Resources, Kencana Agri, Bumitama Agri, Indofood Agri Resources and TSH Resources.
Notices in Indonesia and earlier investigations
NEA's action also extends to 10 Indonesian companies. Alongside the Section 10 notices sent to Singapore-registered firms, it issued Preventive Measure Notices under Section 9 to seven Indonesian companies on October 16, 2026, over fires in Sumatra, and to another three on October 19 over fires in Kalimantan. Those notices require firefighting personnel to be deployed, burning to stop and fire action plans to be submitted.
Three of the Indonesian plantation companies face separate Singapore investigations dating to 2015, with no publicly announced outcome, Mongabay reported. They are PT Bumi Andalas Permai, PT Bumi Mekar Hijau and PT SBA Wood Industries, all tied to Asia Pulp & Paper (APP).
APP also faced a certification measure in October. The Singapore Environment Council placed it under temporary green certification restrictions on October 18 after three of its wood-fiber suppliers were linked to Indonesian fires that caused haze in Singapore, according to Channel NewsAsia.
The law's reach and penalties
The Transboundary Haze Pollution Act took effect in September 2014. It made Singapore the first country to enact a law allowing punishment of foreign entities for cross-border air pollution. Its reach includes activities outside Singapore that cause or contribute to haze pollution within the country.
The October 2026 notices marked the first use of such notices against Singapore-based companies since the law took effect, Channel NewsAsia reported. Despite several major haze episodes since 2015, no charges or penalties had been brought or imposed under the act as of late October 2026, according to Mongabay.
A company found responsible for causing or contributing to transboundary haze pollution faces a fine of up to S$100,000 per day, subject to an aggregate cap of S$2 million. A separate penalty applies to a person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to provide documents or information required by a Section 10 notice: a fine of up to S$5,000, imprisonment for up to one month, or both.
Amendments planned for November 3
The government intends to introduce amendments at the November 3, 2026, parliamentary sitting, with Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu to move the legislation.
The proposed changes would give the investigative framework legal force, allowing NEA to compel companies to appoint assessors and making noncompliance an offense. Shanmugam said failure to cooperate with assessors would itself become an offense if Parliament passes the bill.
