Malaysia announced it will use ASEAN diplomatic channels to find a solution to the transboundary haze affecting Sarawak and other parts of the region. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said ASEAN is the most appropriate platform for resolving haze issues among member states and called on the ASEAN Secretariat to coordinate efforts jointly with Indonesia. "We believe ASEAN is the best mechanism for addressing issues and problems among ASEAN member states," he said, adding it is more effective than bilateral talks alone [1, 2].

Malaysia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) will submit an official letter to the ASEAN Secretariat within days to intensify coordination on haze control and forest fire prevention. NRES Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup will also write directly to his Indonesian counterpart to address the root causes of the haze [1, 3, 4, 2].

Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan commenced a three-day working visit to Brunei starting August 20, 2026, where he attended the 27th Malaysia-Brunei Exchange of Letters meeting on August 21 in Bandar Seri Begawan. The 27th Annual Leaders’ Consultation between Malaysia and Brunei is scheduled for August 22, where haze is expected to be a key topic of discussion. Malaysian High Commissioner Datuk Mohd Aini Atan said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah will address the haze issue during the consultation [1, 3, 4].

Air quality data as of 4 p.m. on August 21 showed unhealthy conditions across Sarawak. Serian district logged an Air Pollutant Index (API) of 217, classified as very unhealthy, followed by Sri Aman (186), Sarikei (173), Kuching (171), Samarahan (170), Sibu and Samalaju (156), Bintulu (153), Mukah (125), and Kapit (108) [1, 3, 4]. APIMS data cited by The Vibes reported an even higher Serian API of 242 at 6 a.m. on the same day [2].

Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan emphasized the need for stronger regional cooperation. "ASEAN mechanisms are more effective in ensuring that the ASEAN Secretariat can coordinate joint efforts between Malaysia and Indonesia to address the causes of forest fires that contribute to transboundary air pollution," he said [2].

Malaysia’s steps include submitting the official letter to the ASEAN Secretariat within one or two days of August 21 to enable prompt regional action. This marks an escalation in diplomatic efforts with Indonesia and ASEAN to mitigate haze and forest fire impacts in the region [2].