Sumatra forest fires blamed for worsening haze over Johor and nearby regions

Transboundary smoke from Indonesian forest fires in southern Sumatra is identified as a major contributor to the haze blanketing Johor and the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia, according to the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre. The centre observed moderate to dense smoke plumes and reported similar movements toward Singapore. Rainfall across Johor offered a short-term reduction in pollution, yet four of eight monitoring stations still posted unhealthy API readings, the highest being 165 at Kota Tinggi.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department’s director-general, Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip, cautioned that the haze will likely continue while fires burn in Sumatra and Kalimantan under the Southwest Monsoon winds. Singapore’s National Environment Agency also confirmed the presence of smoke from the same source, forecasting southeast or southwest winds to carry it further.