Ahead of National Day celebrations, Malaysia to step up haze mitigation measures with Indonesia

Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to intensify their efforts to combat transboundary haze as the two nations prepare for their National Day celebrations. Currently, 16 areas in Malaysia are experiencing unhealthy air quality levels, with the worst hit being Sarawak, where three districts were reported to have unhealthy air quality as of Wednesday morning.

Malaysia's Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Arthur Joseph Kurup announced the commitment to enhance preventive and early suppression measures with Indonesia during a phone call with his Indonesian counterpart. The El Nino phenomenon is expected to intensify, further exacerbating the haze issue in October 2026, coinciding with the Southwest Monsoon.

Malaysia's API (Air Pollutant Index) levels range from good (up to 50) to hazardous (above 300), with levels between 101-200 classified as unhealthy. The Malaysian government is appreciative of Indonesia's approval for cloud seeding operations across their shared border. Malaysia's National Disaster Management Agency and Meteorological Department are preparing a schedule to coordinate operations with the Indonesian Armed Forces, and they remain prepared to assist Indonesia in firefighting efforts if necessary.