Key facts
- Malaysia may scale back or postpone National Day celebrations if haze from Indonesian forest fires persists.
- Indonesia reports that forest and land fires are easing and could be controlled within one to two weeks.
- Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to intensify preventive and early firefighting measures.
- Malaysia has received Indonesian approval for cloud-seeding operations to cross Indonesian airspace.
- Air quality in 10 areas across four Malaysian states has reached unhealthy levels.
Malaysia is considering scaling back or postponing its National Day celebrations on August 31 due to persistent haze from forest fires in Indonesia. The pollution has disrupted daily life and prompted a more coordinated regional response.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stated on Tuesday that the country's forest and land fires are easing in several areas and expressed hope they could be fully controlled within one to two weeks. He attributed the fires to a strong El Niño this year and detailed the deployment of thousands of personnel, dozens of helicopters, and numerous aircraft for firefighting efforts.
Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to intensify preventive and early firefighting measures, particularly as El Niño is expected to strengthen towards October, coinciding with the Southwest Monsoon. This commitment was reached during a phone conversation between Malaysia's Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup and Indonesia’s Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat. Malaysia has also received approval for cloud-seeding operations to cross Indonesian airspace along the shared border, with coordination underway between disaster management agencies and meteorological departments.
As of Monday morning, 10 areas across four Malaysian states had recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings, with Serian in Sarawak nearing the 'very unhealthy' category. Malaysian authorities are monitoring hotspot activity and air quality, and Malaysia has offered assistance to Indonesia if requested.
Amidst the recurring transboundary haze, Malaysian social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye has called for an urgent review of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution and a stronger regional action plan.