Haze 2026

The transboundary haze caused by Indonesia’s forest and peatland fires is nothing new. It was already troubling Southeast Asia in 1983, when I was just a child.

Since then, the haze has returned almost every dry season, particularly between August and October. The 1997 crisis was especially devastating, as Malaysia sent firefighting teams to help battle the massive fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Coincidentally, the Asian financial crisis struck around the same time, leaving behind two unforgettable scars in our collective memory.

Now, in 2026, history is repeating itself. In September, Sematan in Sarawak reportedly recorded an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading above 500, well into the hazardous range. By October, schools were closing again, and this morning even Kuala Lumpur woke up to the smell of smoke.

More than two decades after regional agreements were signed, the haze continues to return, year after year. Promises have been made, but lasting solutions remain elusive.

How many more years must we endure this toxic haze before the skies finally clear for good?

#Mikemoments