Malaysia warns haze to linger into next year as Super El Niño fuels fire risk
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Arthur Joseph Kurup said the haze will remain until early next year because an intensifying El Niño will raise fire danger, and Malaysia will support Indonesia with aerial firefighting assets.
The Malaysian government warned that haze will persist until early 2027 as a Super El Niño intensifies from October to January, with effects lasting through June. Minister Arthur Joseph Kurup linked the phenomenon to a drier southwest monsoon, raising the risk of open fires and worsening air quality. Malaysia pledged aerial water-bombing, amphibious aircraft support and cloud-seeding to assist Indonesia, especially in Kalimantan where more than 1,400 hotspots have been reported.
The assistance was outlined in a September 9 letter to Indonesia’s environment minister and endorsed by President Prabowo Subianto. Joint efforts are being coordinated by the National Disaster Management Agency, the Fire and Rescue Department, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, MetMalaysia and the Royal Malaysian Air Force, following a June-15 haze-weather committee meeting and recent bilateral talks in Jakarta and Bali. Malaysia also urged ASEAN members to strengthen fire-prevention measures through a letter to the ASEAN secretary-general.
Why it matters
Prolonged haze threatens public health, economies and cross-border relations in Southeast Asia.
How this story developed
- Sep 14 Kalimantan haze forces delays for 73 flights at Supadio Airport
- Sep 17 Indonesia broadened its wildfire‑containment operations to additional provinces and national parks.
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