The Singapore government has officially appointed a seven-member specialist panel to assess companies suspected of contributing to transboundary haze. Announced on Friday, Oct 30, by the Ministry of Law (MinLaw) and the National Environment Agency (NEA), the panel includes a mix of investigation firms and legal experts tasked with scrutinizing corporate supply chains and operations.
Panel Composition and Expertise
The panel consists of three investigation firms—Control Risks Group, FTI Consulting (Singapore), and Kroll Singapore—and four legal entities: Dentons Rodyk & Davidson LLP, TSMP Law Corporation, WongPartnership LLP, and Toby Landau KC of Duxton Hill Chambers. The inclusion of a King’s Counsel (KC) and other senior legal advisers provides the government with specialized expertise in forensic investigation, financial analysis, and complex cross-border legal structures.
Davinder Singh Chambers has been appointed as the government’s lead adviser to coordinate the panel’s efforts. Authorities noted that the panel may expand in the future, as some firms were excluded due to existing conflicts of interest with companies currently under government scrutiny.
Accountability and Next Steps
The initiative follows a high-level meeting earlier this week between government ministers and executives from 10 companies linked to potential haze-causing fires. These companies, which include major agribusinesses like Wilmar International and Sinar Mas Group, have been directed to engage a team from the panel—comprising one investigation firm and one legal adviser—to conduct an independent assessment at their own expense.
The findings from these assessments will be submitted to the NEA to determine if further regulatory action is required. Additionally, the government plans to table amendments to the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act in the upcoming parliamentary session to formalize this assessment framework and strengthen enforcement capabilities.
