{
  "id": 5212044,
  "title": "DOE steps up patrols amid worsening haze crisis, warns landowners against open burning",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/doe-steps-up-patrols-amid-worsening-haze-crisis-warns-landowners-5212044",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-03T00:43:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/09/03/doe-steps-up-patrols-amid-worsening-haze-crisis-warns-landowners-against-open-burning/233709"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Department of Environment (DOE) is intensifying monitoring efforts to prevent activities that may exacerbate the worsening haze crisis in Malaysia. Enforcement Division Director Rosli Zul emphasized that officers, along with authorized agencies, are continually conducting patrols, with a particular focus on open burning activities, including those at residences, plantations, industrial sectors such as charcoal burning for energy generation, and quarry blasting operations. The DOE has also distributed letters to landowners and plantation owners, urging them to ensure that their activities do not contribute to an increase in the Air Pollutant Index (API). Additionally, the DOE monitors hotspot data obtained from satellite images and promptly reports any detected fires to the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) for swift resolution. Rosli further highlighted that vehicular movement generally contributes to deteriorating air quality. He noted that while the primary cause of the haze is forest burning from neighboring countries exacerbated by hot weather and Southwest Monsoon wind direction, Malaysia must also take domestic measures to avoid worsening the situation. To assist the public, the DOE will continue to provide air quality-related information through 68 monitoring stations across the country, aiming to guide daily activities, especially for vulnerable groups like the elderly and children. Currently, two areas in Sarawak have recorded hazardous API levels, namely Serian District Police Headquarters (IPD) with a reading of 325, and Kuching with 309, while five areas in Sarawak are experiencing very unhealthy API levels. A total of 16 stations recorded unhealthy API readings, with the highest being Bintulu at 192, followed by Kapit (190), Kota Kinabalu Polytechnic (178), Keningau (175), Kota Kinabalu (173), Labuan (173), Samalaju (172), Kimanis (171), ILP Miri (170), Limbang (169), Miri (166), Johan Setia (159), Putrajaya (151), Nilai (151), Sandakan (136), and Seremban (109).",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 — The Department of Environment (DOE) will continue to step up monitoring to ensure that no a...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "DOE steps up patrols amid worsening haze crisis, warns landowners against open burning",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/doe-steps-up-patrols-amid-worsening-haze-crisis-warns-landowners",
        "published": "2026-09-03T00:43:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}