Malaysian Media Highlights Kalimantan Forest Fire Haze Drifting to Sarawak

Malaysian media have highlighted the worsening air quality in several areas due to haze from forest and land fires. The situation has developed as smoke from Kalimantan, Indonesia, is reported to be moving towards Sarawak.

Malaysian newspaper The Star reported on Wednesday (12/8/2026) that ten areas in Malaysia recorded Air Pollutant Index (API) readings in the unhealthy category. Nine of these are in Sarawak.

Citing the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) operated by Malaysia’s Department of Environment, the affected areas in Sarawak include Serian, Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu, and Samalaju.

Serian recorded the highest API reading at 180. Kuching stood at 162 and Samarahan at 163.

Meanwhile, API readings in Sibu reached 158, Sri Aman 153, Sarikei 154, Mukah 156, Bintulu 147, and Samalaju 142, based on the latest data on Monday morning (10/8).

Apart from Sarawak, the Johan Setia area in Selangor also recorded unhealthy air quality with an API reading of 153.

Under Malaysia’s API classification, readings of 101-200 fall into the unhealthy category, while 51-100 are categorised as moderate.

The Star noted that the deteriorating air quality has occurred amid dry conditions and haze affecting Sarawak. The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) reported smoke plumes from hotspots in West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan moving northwards towards western Sarawak.

ASMC warned that dry conditions are expected to persist across most of the southern ASEAN region. The situation increases the risk of transboundary haze, particularly in areas experiencing prolonged dry weather.

Malaysia’s Meteorological Department also forecast hot conditions with minimal rainfall across most of Kalimantan, including Sarawak, until Friday.

The Malaysian public, particularly children, the elderly, and those with heart or lung conditions, has been advised to monitor air quality index developments. Residents are also advised to limit prolonged outdoor activities when air quality deteriorates.

Plh Head of the Data, Information, and Disaster Communication Centre at BNPB, Dodi Yuleova, revealed the outcome of a coordination meeting discussing the potential impact of transboundary haze from forest and land fires, chaired by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago on Monday (10/8). The seasonal transition, he said, has caused dominant winds to move from southeast to west, potentially carrying smoke from Indonesian territory towards Malaysia.

Based on satellite imagery monitoring, haze from forest and land fires was observed crossing into Malaysian territory bordering West Kalimantan on 4 and 6-9 August 2026.

In terms of air quality, on 9 August 2026 several areas showed categories ranging from unhealthy for sensitive groups to very unhealthy, he said. The highest AQI value was recorded in Pontianak City at 193.

Dodi said the condition increases the risk of health problems, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and toddlers.