Media Doorstop post-meeting with companies - Ms Grace Fu

Earlier this afternoon, DPM Gan, Senior Minister Shanmugam and I met with the senior leadership of companies which may be connected to the transboundary haze.

We were accompanied by Mr Davinder Singh SC, senior officials from AGC, NEA and MinLaw.

We were direct about the Government's position and what we expect of these companies.

The haze has affected the daily lives and well-being of Singaporeans. Air quality reached very unhealthy levels in October. It poses real health risks, especially for vulnerable groups – children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with chronic heart and lung conditions.

Singaporeans should not have to bear the health and environmental costs of irresponsible business conduct. 

The Government takes this seriously, and we are determined to act.

Even as the haze condition improved, we will not relent.

NEA has served formal statutory notices on these companies under Section 10 of the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act. These are not routine requests for information. Non-compliance is an offence. We expect full, accurate, and prompt responses that reflect substantive cooperation and transparency.

Last week, the Government also announced the creation of a specialist panel of experts who have expertise in cross-border inquiries and investigations. The Ministry of Law will be publishing a list of firms selected to be on this panel. The companies will be expected to engage a firm from this panel at their own expense and give these independent assessors full access to their operations, supply chains, and corporate relationships. The independent assessor will review and provide an evaluation report to NEA.

I will be making amendments to the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act at the next Parliamentary sitting, to give this framework the force of law. Companies that do not comply will be committing an offence.

We will exercise our powers to protect the health of Singaporeans.

刚才，我与颜金勇副总理和尚穆根国务资政与几家可能与跨境烟霾有关联的公司总裁会面。

我们清楚表明了政府的立场，以及我们对他们的要求。 

今年10月，新加坡的空气质量达到非常不健康的水平，影响国人的生活和健康，尤其是儿童、年长者，孕妇和患有慢性心脏或肺部疾病的人。

我们不能让企业的不负责任行为，损害新加坡人的健康和我们居住的环境。

新加坡政府严肃看待烟霾问题，决心采取行动。即使空气质量好转，我们并不松懈。

国家环境局已经向有关公司发出法定通知。这些公司有法律责任，全面、准确和及时地提供资料，委任中立稽查员，充分配合调查。 

政府也将修订《跨境烟霾污染法令》，并在下一次国会会议上提出修正案，让这套机制具有法律约束力。

我们会尽全力保障国人的健康。