Tsh Resources Bhd and Haze Crisis: NGO Investigations

An Indonesian environmental group has identified 21 Malaysian-linked companies allegedly involved in forest and land fires contributing to the transboundary haze crisis, a finding that contradicts a statement from Putrajaya on October 16 that a Plantation and Commodities Ministry check found no Malaysian plantation companies involved in the fires Malaysiakini. This investigation by the Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi) is based on its "Actor Mapping Analysis: Who Are Behind The Fires?" report, cited by Walhi's forest and plantation campaigner Umi Ma'rufah Malaysiakini.

Background of the Haze Crisis Findings

Greenpeace Indonesia and Pantau Gambut claimed on October 5 that plantation companies from Malaysia and Singapore were among 20 entities involved in the forest fires Malaysiakini. The report named Malaysian plantation group Kuala Lumpur Kepong (KLK) Group, which has ties to Indonesian entity PT Menteng Jaya Sawit Perdana, as one of the 20 companies most closely associated with fires, based on its haze sources dataset between August 1 and October 1, 2026 Malaysiakini. Furthermore, on October 19, news portal Politik Indonesia reported that the Environment Ministry had taken action against 22 foreign-owned companies, including nine from Malaysia, sealing off burned areas totaling 6,033.85ha between August 26 and September 8; properties owned by foreign investors from Malaysia and Singapore accounted for 95 percent of this total burned area Politik Indonesia.

TSH Resources and Regulatory Action

Regarding TSH Resources Bhd, two Singapore-incorporated subsidiaries, TSH Overseas Pte Ltd and TSH Global Plantation Pte Ltd, received notices from Singapore's National Environment Agency under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014 on October 23, requiring them to submit information by November 2 NST Online. TSH Resources, which is involved in oil palm cultivation and operates plantations in Indonesia, stated it was reviewing the notices NST Online.

Implications for Affected Parties

Walhi plans to take all implicated companies to court under Article 71 of Indonesia's Forestry Act 1999, which permits communities to file a citizen lawsuit if pollution or forest damage affects their lives Malaysiakini. Umi Ma'rufah stressed that concession holders should be held responsible for alleged negligence in preventing fires under Indonesian laws Malaysiakini. For those seeking legal recourse, Walhi has engaged an international legal consultant to form an opinion on filing a lawsuit in Singapore, noting that Singapore's Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014 allows actions against controlling parent entities, unlike in Malaysia where such a law is not currently in place Malaysiakini.

Our view is that the pursuit of legal accountability across borders highlights the need for harmonized environmental regulations to effectively address transnational pollution issues, rather than relying solely on national enforcement actions.

Transnational environmental issues force nations to confront differing regulatory standards and national responsibilities, which conservativenations.org analyzes.

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