Slight reprieve from haze soon but overall risk of smog still high till next year: minister

KUALA LUMPUR — Some reprieve from transboundary haze is expected to begin in late October for areas currently affected but Malaysia remains at risk of continued smog from Indonesia’s land fires till next year. Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup the transition to the Northeast Monsoon, expected to begin late this month, could alter the movement of transboundary haze currently affecting several areas in the south of the country, particularly Sarawak and Johor. Shifts in wind direction during the Northeast Monsoon could carry haze to other areas, easing its impact on areas currently affected. However, as the Super El Niño phenomenon is forecast to intensify from this month until January 2027, the likelihood of forest and peatland fires in the region remains. Arthur said the El Niño phenomenon is expected to persist until mid-2027, with the year potentially among the hottest on record. Its impact will include erratic rainfall, a higher risk of drought and more hotspots and fires that could worsen the haze. The minister cautioned that prolonged hot and dry conditions would not only increase the risk of forest and peatland fires but could also affect agriculture, food security, water supplies and public health. Arthur said Indonesia must take firm and effective action to tackle the fires contributing to transboundary haze pollution. Though Malaysia respected diplomatic relations with Indonesia, Putrajaya also had the right to demand appropriate action to ensure its people could enjoy clean air, he said. “We also have the right to demand effective action when cross-border pollution affects our people. “The fires must be controlled, pollution must be reduced and the people must be protected," he said at a press conference in Putrajaya, Bernama reports. Malaysia has had several consultations with Indonesia and offered assistance, including assets and personnel, to expedite firefighting efforts in affected areas, as conveyed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and eputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Indonesia recently said it still had confidence in its own capacity to fight land fires and had put on hold offers of assistance from various countries as the fires and haze had not been declared a national disaster. Arthur said Indonesia had “verbally agreed” to Malaysia's offer of assistance, but still needed further coordination pending final authorisation for the deployment of assets and personnel. He said Malaysia would raise the transboundary haze issue at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila, the Philippines, early next month to seek a more effective regional solution. Malaysia will also chair the Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee (MSC) on Transboundary Haze Pollution next year, Arthur added. As such, his ministry is conducting studies and drafting several new initiatives to ensure more effective and concrete action to address the recurring haze problem. - October 22, 2026 The post Slight reprieve from haze soon but overall risk of smog still high till next year: minister appeared first on Scoop .