Malaysia weighs new cross-border haze law amid evidence-gathering challenges

During a Dewan Rakyat session, Deputy Minister Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh highlighted the difficulty of obtaining reliable evidence—like fire locations, land titles and responsible parties—to link forest fires to haze affecting neighboring countries. He responded to a query about adopting a Singapore-type transboundary haze law, stating that such legislation could be introduced pending parliamentary approval, though no concrete plan has been announced.

The minister emphasized that Malaysia will maintain diplomatic engagement with Indonesia and work through ASEAN mechanisms, including the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution and the 2030 haze-free vision. Two regional initiatives, a scientific diplomacy platform and a sustainable haze fund, were also mentioned. Further discussions are scheduled for a December meeting of the Committee and Conference of Parties in Vietnam, aiming to translate diplomatic efforts into measurable actions grounded in evidence and law.