{
  "id": 10899855,
  "title": "DOE: Over 500 hotspots in Kalimantan and Sumatra behind haze in Malaysia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/doe-over-500-hotspots-in-kalimantan-and-sumatra-behind-haze-in-10899855",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T08:39:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/09/30/doe-over-500-hotspots-in-kalimantan-and-sumatra-behind-haze-in-malaysia/237144"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — The haze currently plaguing Malaysia is attributed to moderate to thick smoke emanating from clusters of hotspots detected across vast expanses of Kalimantan, central and southern Sumatra. Deputy Director-General (Development) at the Department of Environment (DOE), Azuri Azizah Saedon, disclosed that the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) had reported 327 hotspots in Kalimantan and 191 in Sumatra the previous day, along with an additional hotspot in Sarawak. Azuri informed that the ASMC also noted moderate transboundary haze impacting several regions in Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and northwestern Borneo.\n\nThe DOE has ramped up inspections, patrols, and monitoring in fire-prone areas, with a special focus on peatlands and landfill sites, given the persistent hot and dry weather conditions. Azuri emphasized that any identified violations would be dealt with accordingly, based on inspection findings and on-site evidence. The DOE remains committed to continuous monitoring of Air Pollutant Index (API) readings, hotspots, and transboundary haze developments, taking meteorological data into account for situation assessment and coordinating haze management measures at various administrative levels.\n\nAs of 2 pm today, 23 areas in Peninsular Malaysia were reported to have unhealthy API readings, with the most significant readings logged in Selangor, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya. The DOE's actions are being undertaken in an integrated manner under the National Haze Action Plan (PTJK), which outlines the responsibilities of different agencies depending on the severity and progression of the haze situation. The department will continue to provide regular updates on the situation, monitoring and patrol findings, Open Burning Prevention Operations (OMPT), and enforcement actions as per the established reporting framework. This approach aims to ensure ongoing assessment and coordinated action at all levels.\n\nFurthermore, the DOE stresses the importance of cooperation from the industrial sector to mitigate air emissions from significant sources, particularly in regions where API readings exceed 300.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — The haze currently affecting the country is caused by moderate to thick smoke from cluster...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Behind closed doors, a fatal beating exposes Malaysia’s parallel boarding school rules",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/behind-closed-doors-a-fatal-beating-exposes-malaysias-parallel",
        "published": "2026-09-30T07:44:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "DOE: Over 500 hotspots in Kalimantan and Sumatra behind haze in Malaysia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/doe-over-500-hotspots-in-kalimantan-and-sumatra-behind-haze-in",
        "published": "2026-09-30T08:39:28.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}