ASEAN Nations Protest Indonesian Forest Fire Haze
Smoke from forest and land fires in Kalimantan has penetrated neighbouring countries, including Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and even the Philippines. Residents in these nations have begun expressing distress and concern as hundreds of schools have cancelled in-person classes due to the Air Pollution Index entering the ‘very unhealthy’ category.
The Philippine Environmental Management Bureau has gone as far as instructing its citizens to limit outdoor activities and mandate the use of masks. Previously, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam agreed to bring the issue of Indonesia’s forest fires to the ASEAN level during the 27th Malaysia-Brunei Annual Leaders’ Consultation in Bandar Seri Begawan on Saturday (22/08).
This mechanism is made possible under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, which was ratified through Law Number 26 of 2014. Article 27 of that law states that the resolution of transboundary haze issues must be conducted peacefully through ‘consultation or negotiation’. However, International Law expert from the University of Muhammadiyah Surabaya, Satria Unggul Wicaksana, assesses that bringing the forest fire case to the ASEAN forum indicates that ‘the government appears unable and unwilling to resolve this problem’.
The haze caused by forest and land fires in Kalimantan, described as the largest since 2015 and 2019, has reportedly reached several neighbouring countries. In Sarawak, Malaysia, the Air Pollution Index (API) in several areas has been in the ‘unhealthy’ category in recent days. Consequently, the Sarawak State Education Department (JPN) temporarily instructed the suspension of in-person learning in Kuching, Samarahan, Seranak, Sri Aman, and Betong on 20-21 August.
Muhammad Fazli Bendaud, a resident of Sarawak, Malaysia, noted that they remain anxious due to the haze, which he described as ‘getting stronger’. As the smoke from Kalimantan thickens day by day, children are unable to attend school. ‘The residents in Sarawak are disturbed by the haze that thickens every day,’ he said on Tuesday (01/09). ‘It is heartbreaking to see children whose schools are forced to close. We hope there is a solution from all parties so this can be resolved well. Perhaps not for now, but for the future, so this does not continue to happen, happen, and happen again.’
In Brunei Darussalam, the local government reported a decline in air quality and hazy conditions, triggering mild health complaints such as coughing and eye irritation. Meanwhile, Philippine media reported that the haze from Kalimantan has reached several areas in Luzon, the largest island in the country. Furthermore, based on monitoring by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), haze has been detected in parts of Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa.
Due to this haze, several public schools in Metro Manila were forced to suspend in-person classes on Tuesday (01/09). Similarly, private schools and universities were permitted to switch to online learning. This follows air monitoring networks in Quezon City, the largest city in Metro Manila, recording ‘very unhealthy’ air quality across various districts. Local authorities have also advised citizens to wear high-filtration masks, such as N9SS, and to remain indoors.
Estela Lata, a single mother working as a domestic helper, shared that her two daughters are attending online classes after Quezon City officials suspended in-person learning. She and her children have begun wearing masks, even inside their small home. ‘I am worried my daughters will suffer from coughs and flu due to the haze, which is why I asked them to start wearing masks. I hope this haze ends soon,’ Estela Lata told journalists.
Meanwhile, Victoria Lagao, a professor living in Malabon City, Metro Manila, was diagnosed with sinusitis on Saturday (29/08) due to the haze. ‘Initially, I thought this sinusitis was caused by weather changes, but after the announcement from Quezon City officials, I knew my illness was triggered by the haze… I have advised my students to wear masks and not to leave the house unless necessary. This is the right time to start planting trees to reduce pollution like now,’ she said during her online class.
Forest fires in Indonesia have shown no signs of subsiding despite weeks of land and aerial firefighting operations. According to Mapbiomas Fire, a satellite-based fire mapping platform, the national area of forest and land fires for the period of January-June 2026 reached 178,232 hectares—equivalent to three times the size of Singapore, and 66% larger than the official government claim.