Hotspots, peat fires and palm oil: Why tracing Malaysia’s haze is so complicated

Malaysia is grappling with a recurrence of haze, prompting a closer look at the factors contributing to the forest and land fires in the region. While satellite images and hotspots highlight the issue, determining the origin and cause of these fires is far from simple. The Malaysian government has extended firefighting support to Indonesia, reflecting the transboundary nature of the haze.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced this offer of a Bombardier CL-415MP aircraft, three helicopters, and 52 officers to the Indonesian Vice-President. The aircraft, previously used in South Sumatra in 2015, can drop significant amounts of water during firefighting operations. The air quality in Malaysia has worsened, with 32 areas recording unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings.

Among these, Johan Setia in Selangor topped the list with a reading of 183. Sarawak, too, reported the highest number of affected areas, with Kuching registering an API reading of 174. The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has pointed out that the palm oil industry cannot be solely blamed for the fires, as hotspots have been spotted across various land uses, including unmanaged areas, pulpwood plantations, and small-scale farming plots.

They emphasize that human activities, particularly land-clearing, are a major driver of the fires. El Niño and prolonged dry weather, on the other hand, serve as amplifiers, making the situation more challenging to manage. The Malaysian oil palm industry operates under the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) Certification Scheme, which enforces zero burning, as of January 2020.

However, the risk of fires increases during dry seasons, especially from June to September during the southwest monsoon and around January and February. Satellites can detect hotspots, but these do not directly indicate the cause or land use involved. Therefore, Malaysia and Indonesia face a dual challenge - containing the fires and improving their ability to identify their causes.