Toxic haze from Indonesian fires chokes Malaysian Borneo

What the report says

Smoke from forest and peatland fires in Indonesia has spread across parts of Malaysian Borneo, leaving Sarawak with hazardous air quality and prompting health warnings, school closures and cancelled public events, Al Jazeera reported on 1 September 2026. The haze has also affected peninsular Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore, but the most severe impacts described in the report were in Sarawak and nearby areas.

According to the article, six areas in Sarawak recorded hazardous readings above 300 on Malaysia’s Air Pollutant Index, with Kuching and Serian both above 400. Residents and asthma patients described breathing problems, reduced visibility and persistent smoke indoors. Malaysia’s health ministry said asthma and conjunctivitis cases rose sharply in late August, while officials in Sarawak warned that stricter emergency measures could follow if air quality worsened further.

The report links the haze to fires burning in Sumatra and Indonesian Borneo, especially West and Central Kalimantan, where pollution readings were also extremely high. Indonesian authorities said thousands of people had been treated for respiratory infections and that millions had been exposed to smoke. The government has said many of the fires are deliberately set to clear land for plantations and farming, a long-running issue in the region.

Al Jazeera also noted that the situation is being worsened by dry weather and an intensifying El Nino pattern, which experts said could prolong the fire season and deepen the regional impact. The article places the episode in the context of the 2015 haze crisis, which previously caused widespread respiratory illness across Southeast Asia.