Malaysia has urged ASEAN member states to enhance preventive measures, surveillance, and firefighting preparedness to tackle transboundary haze pollution. The call came in an official letter sent on August 21, 2026, to ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7].
The heightened urgency follows unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings recorded on the morning of August 22 in 11 areas across Sarawak and Melaka. Serian in Sarawak registered the highest API at 190. Other areas with high API levels included Kuching (181-182), Samarahan (177), Sri Aman (173-174), Sarikei (172-173), Sibu (160-161), Bintulu (157), Samalaju (156), Mukah (156), Miri (151-152), and Bukit Rambai in Melaka (140-151) [1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10]. Meanwhile, 57 additional areas reported moderate pollution levels, with no locations achieving good air quality on that day [1, 2, 3].
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said, "Although fires are currently still under control within the respective borders of ASEAN member states, the risk of transboundary haze requires collective preparedness and heightened vigilance at the regional level" [1]. He added Malaysia's confidence in ASEAN's proactive commitments, saying the bloc's efforts will "enhance regional resilience in confronting climate challenges, while safeguarding a sustainable, prosperous and haze-free environment" for future generations [5].
The rise in haze is linked to prolonged dry weather across southern ASEAN and an expected intensification of the El Niño phenomenon, which could worsen conditions during the approaching Southwest Monsoon [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. Kurup noted that "with the El Niño phenomenon expected to intensify towards October 2026, coinciding with the Southwest Monsoon, both nations are fully committed to stepping up prevention and early suppression measures" [11].
On August 22, Malaysia and Brunei agreed at the 27th Annual Leaders' Consultations to address transboundary haze through ASEAN mechanisms [8, 10]. Two days later, on August 24, Malaysia and Indonesia agreed to intensify haze prevention and mitigation efforts ahead of Malaysia's National Day on August 31 and Malaysia Day on September 16. These include weather modification and cloud seeding [11, 12].
Malaysia praised Indonesia’s actions led by President Prabowo, including deploying 1,500 additional military personnel, water bombing helicopters, and weather modification. Malaysia also remains ready to assist Indonesia in firefighting efforts, pending Cabinet approval [11, 12].
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said, "We both agreed to use the ASEAN mechanism as the best option. We have asked Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan to manage this issue" [10].
The next key milestones are Malaysia's National Day on August 31 and Malaysia Day on September 16, dates by which Malaysia and Indonesia aim to have stepped up haze mitigation measures [11, 12].
