Key Takeaways
- • On Oct 23, 2026, the National Environment Agency (NEA) issued notices to 10 Singapore-based firms under the Republic's haze law, widening its probe into companies linked to transboundary haze, following legal notices to 10 Indonesian firms earlier in October.
- • Three of the 10 firms are Sinar Mas subsidiaries (APP Company, APP Company (China), Golden Agri International), with the conglomerate controlled by the Widjaja family, whose estimated net worth is US$28.3 billion.
- • Ownership of the 10 firms spans Sinar Mas, Wilmar International, Salim Group, Harita Group, the Fangiono family (First Resources), the Maknawi family (Kencana Agri), and a Malaysian plantation group (TSH Resources), per The Straits Times' review of corporate filings.
- • Several companies were implicated in the 2015 haze crisis or in Greenpeace's Oct 5 report, and multiple firms have said that hot spots within their concessions did not establish responsibility for fires.
- • Senior Minister K. Shanmugam warned on Oct 19 that firms will no longer be able to hide behind complex corporate structures or borders, and that Singapore is ready to use "every legal and regulatory lever."
Summary
On Oct 23, the National Environment Agency (NEA) issued notices to 10 Singapore-based firms under the Republic's haze law, according to The Straits Times. The action extends Singapore's widening probe into companies believed to be linked to the transboundary haze affecting the region. The NEA had earlier issued legal notices to 10 Indonesian firms in October. Some of the Singapore companies responded within a day, saying they would cooperate with authorities. Senior Minister K. Shanmugam warned on Oct 19 that errant firms will no longer be allowed to hide behind complex corporate structures or geographical borders.
Three of the firms are subsidiaries of Sinar Mas, a conglomerate with businesses spanning agroforestry, telecommunications, energy and real estate. The group is controlled by the Widjaja family, with an estimated net worth of US$28.3 billion (S$36.1 billion); Forbes ranked the family third among Indonesia's top 50 richest in 2025. APP was linked to the 2015 haze crisis, when three Indonesian pulpwood suppliers received Section 9 notices that were never closed. Three of those suppliers were again issued notices in 2026, and another supplier was implicated. APP's 2025 financial statement showed an operating profit of US$1.65 billion.
Wilmar International, the largest agribusiness among the 10, was founded by Kuok Khoon Hong and Martua Sitorus; Kuok remains chairman and chief executive. On Oct 16, Wilmar acknowledged fires in some Indonesian concessions but said they originated outside boundaries or on land farmed by local communities. Golden Agri-Resources, listed on the SGX, is linked to Sinar Mas and chaired by Franky Oesman Widjaja.
Indofood Agri Resources is owned by the Salim Group, headed by Anthoni Salim, a Singapore PR. Bumitama Agri, listed on the SGX since 2012, operates under the Harita Group. First Resources is controlled by Eight Capital, a BVI company tied to a family trust for the Fangiono family. Its Kayung Agro Lestari unit was ranked ninth among 20 concession entities with the most haze source points between August and Oct 1, according to Greenpeace's Oct 5 report. First Resources said on Oct 15 that hot spot detection does not by itself establish fire origin or responsibility.
Kencana Agri is run by the Maknawi family, and on Oct 16 said fires affecting about 62ha in North Kalimantan spread from adjacent land. Charles Loo Cheau Leong, deputy COO and CFO of Wilmar, was appointed a Kencana director on Jan 1. TSH Global Plantation and TSH Oversea are linked to TSH Resources, a Malaysian group chaired by co-founder Kelvin Tan Aik Pen. On Oct 22, TSH said 274 hot spots were detected in its Indonesian concessions between Jan 1 and Oct 21, but none occurred in planted or operational areas.
Three of the firms are subsidiaries of Sinar Mas, a conglomerate with businesses spanning agroforestry, telecommunications, energy and real estate. The group is controlled by the Widjaja family, with an estimated net worth of US$28.3 billion (S$36.1 billion); Forbes ranked the family third among Indonesia's top 50 richest in 2025. APP was linked to the 2015 haze crisis, when three Indonesian pulpwood suppliers received Section 9 notices that were never closed. Three of those suppliers were again issued notices in 2026, and another supplier was implicated. APP's 2025 financial statement showed an operating profit of US$1.65 billion.
Wilmar International, the largest agribusiness among the 10, was founded by Kuok Khoon Hong and Martua Sitorus; Kuok remains chairman and chief executive. On Oct 16, Wilmar acknowledged fires in some Indonesian concessions but said they originated outside boundaries or on land farmed by local communities. Golden Agri-Resources, listed on the SGX, is linked to Sinar Mas and chaired by Franky Oesman Widjaja.
Indofood Agri Resources is owned by the Salim Group, headed by Anthoni Salim, a Singapore PR. Bumitama Agri, listed on the SGX since 2012, operates under the Harita Group. First Resources is controlled by Eight Capital, a BVI company tied to a family trust for the Fangiono family. Its Kayung Agro Lestari unit was ranked ninth among 20 concession entities with the most haze source points between August and Oct 1, according to Greenpeace's Oct 5 report. First Resources said on Oct 15 that hot spot detection does not by itself establish fire origin or responsibility.
Kencana Agri is run by the Maknawi family, and on Oct 16 said fires affecting about 62ha in North Kalimantan spread from adjacent land. Charles Loo Cheau Leong, deputy COO and CFO of Wilmar, was appointed a Kencana director on Jan 1. TSH Global Plantation and TSH Oversea are linked to TSH Resources, a Malaysian group chaired by co-founder Kelvin Tan Aik Pen. On Oct 22, TSH said 274 hot spots were detected in its Indonesian concessions between Jan 1 and Oct 21, but none occurred in planted or operational areas.
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