{
  "id": 6829391,
  "title": "Here is Asean’s best shot at ending the haze",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/here-is-aseans-best-shot-at-ending-the-haze-6829391",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-12T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2026/09/12/here-is-asean-s-best-shot-at-ending-the-haze"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On September 4 at 2pm, the air pollutant index (API) in Serian, Sarawak reached 521, a hazardous level above 300. Malaysia declared an emergency in the Serian division, closing 647 schools and sending nearly 200,000 children home. The emergency was lifted on September 7, only for the API to return to 302 the following morning. Indonesian forestry authorities claim land was illegally sold and burned for oil palm cultivation, with 72 people arrested over 89 arson cases. Indonesian environmental group Walhi found that 74% of Kalimantan's fire hotspots sit within corporate concessions. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged potential Malaysian involvement but vowed not to defend them. The health ministry reported 61 asthma cases in the second week of August, rising to 1,811 by the end of the month. The World Bank estimated Indonesia's 2015 fires cost US$16.1 billion (RM65 billion), causing 6,150 to 17,270 premature deaths across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Ending the haze requires breaking four links in the chain of causes, with Malaysia taking the lead in four key areas.",
  "summary": "No single law or country can end the haze from Indonesia that is worrying Malaysians, but Asean has the tools to break some of the links in the chain of causes behind it.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Here is Asean’s best shot at ending the haze",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/here-is-aseans-best-shot-at-ending-the-haze",
        "published": "2026-09-12T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}