{
  "id": 13323104,
  "title": "Haze must be handled with sheer haste in South-east Asia — Phar Kim Beng",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/haze-must-be-handled-with-sheer-haste-in-south-east-asia-phar-kim-beng",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-10T04:03:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/what-you-think/2026/10/10/haze-must-be-handled-with-sheer-haste-in-south-east-asia-phar-kim-beng/238530"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "South-east Asia has long grappled with the issue of transboundary haze, but the recurrence of this environmental disturbance has now become a matter of regional security. The haze, originating from forest and peatland fires in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and parts of mainland South-east Asia, not only compromises public health and economic productivity but also tests the credibility of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). While Asean has established an agreement to manage the issue, the structural weaknesses in regional governance and economic incentives continue to hinder effective enforcement and prevention. The extensive presence of peatlands, which are particularly vulnerable to fires during prolonged dry conditions, exacerbates the problem, making it a matter of human security and economic concern. Rapid responses and sustained political attention are necessary to address the issue effectively.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}