Asean nations seek to end recurring haze crisis
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In early September, air pollution in Serian, Sarawak, Malaysia reached a “hazardous” level of 521 on the Air Pollutant Index, prompting an emergency declaration and the closure of 647 schools across 12 districts.
The haze originated from fires in Indonesia, where authorities have arrested 72 people for arson related to land clearing for oil palm plantations. Investigations by Indonesian environmental groups indicate that 74% of hotspots in Kalimantan are located within corporate concessions.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that Malaysia will not defend companies involved in the fires, but has not committed to independent action. Health clinics in Malaysia recorded a surge in asthma cases, rising from 61 in the second week of August to 1,811 by the end of the month, mirroring the scale of health impacts from the 2015 fires which the World Bank estimated cost Indonesia US$16.1 billion and caused between 6,150 and 17,270 premature deaths.
To address the ongoing problem, the author suggests four solutions. First, Malaysia can enact a Transboundary Haze Act, similar to Singapore’s, to penalize companies responsible for fires on their land. Second, rewetting drained peatlands through canal blocks could reduce fire occurrence. Third, Asean nations must fully activate and fund a Coordinating Centre to enforce the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.
Finally, Sarawak could install HEPA filters in schools and stockpile N95 masks to protect children’s health during future haze events.
