{
  "id": 4967809,
  "title": "Asean haze pact still relevant, says Wan Junaidi",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/asean-haze-pact-still-relevant-says-wan-junaidi",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-01T23:10:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1523885/asean-haze-pact-still-relevant-says-wan-junaidi"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sarawak Chief Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar maintains that the 2002 Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution remains pertinent despite its long-standing. The former natural resources and environment minister from 2015 to 2018 believes that new technology and methods are essential to combat the issue effectively. Wan Junaidi emphasized that blaming anyone for the haze is futile and highlighted the comprehensive nature of the agreement, emphasizing the need to fine-tune implementation strategies. The last significant haze crisis occurred in 2015, and another major episode took place in 2019, both affecting Malaysia and neighboring countries. The Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, signed in Kuala Lumpur in 2002, aims to facilitate shared monitoring, prevention, preparedness, and response to transboundary haze. In 2015, Wan Junaidi offered Malaysia's Bombardier CL-415MP amphibious aircraft to assist Indonesia in battling forest fires, and Malaysia proposed a plan to combat forest fires. Despite challenges in accessing interior areas in Borneo, Sarawak has offered to collaborate with Indonesia in combating forest and land fires, including conducting cloud-seeding operations. Wan Junaidi stressed the importance of utilizing new technologies and methods to combat forest fires and called for improved collaboration among Asean countries to address the problem.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar believes that the more than two decades-old Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) is still relevant.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Sarawak haze could see API levels hit 800, says Wan Junaidi [WATCH]",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/sarawak-haze-could-see-api-levels-hit-800-says-wan-junaidi-watch",
        "published": "2026-09-01T23:02:15.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}