Malaysia escalates haze concerns to Indonesia as Sarawak air quality worsens

MALAYSIA is stepping up diplomatic efforts with Indonesia over worsening transboundary haze, particularly in Sarawak, as air quality in Serian deteriorates to a very unhealthy level.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia was taking the worsening pollution seriously and would formally convey its concerns to Indonesia while activating existing ASEAN mechanisms to address the forest fires contributing to the haze.

He said Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup would write to his Indonesian counterpart, while Malaysia would also raise the issue directly with the ASEAN Secretariat.

The move is aimed at strengthening regional coordination between Malaysia and Indonesia in tackling forest fires and the resulting cross-border air pollution, he said.

“ASEAN mechanisms are more effective in ensuring that the ASEAN Secretariat can coordinate joint efforts between Malaysia and Indonesia to address the causes of forest fires that contribute to transboundary air pollution.

“The letter will be submitted to the ASEAN Secretary-General within the next day or two to enable follow-up action and coordination at the regional level to be carried out immediately,” he said after the 27th Meeting on the Implementation of the Exchange of Letters (EOL-27) in Bandar Seri Begawan today.

The diplomatic push comes as air quality in Serian, near the Malaysia-Indonesia border, worsened sharply this morning, raising concerns over the health impact of the haze on residents.

Data from the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) showed the air pollution index (API) reading at the Serian district police headquarters reached 242 as of 6am, placing the area in the very unhealthy category.

The deterioration has heightened concerns over public health, particularly among vulnerable groups, while underscoring the urgency for Malaysia and Indonesia to intensify cooperation in preventing forest fires and containing transboundary air pollution.

Malaysia’s decision to invoke ASEAN’s established mechanisms also signals a push for the haze issue to be addressed through coordinated regional action rather than bilateral efforts alone. - August 21, 2026