Malaysia prepares for stronger El Niño and haze risk
Malaysia’s government has activated early measures to handle a potentially severe El Niño and the threat of transboundary haze, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup…
Source: The Star Malaysia · August 16, 2026 at 6:08 PM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, 17 AUGUST 2026 —
Malaysia’s government has activated early measures to handle a potentially severe El Niño and the threat of transboundary haze, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said on Sunday.
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Officials began national preparations in June after the 2026 National Haze and Dry Weather Committee met on June 15, he told a statement. State governments and agencies were briefed on expected impacts including lower reservoir levels, higher open-burning risks and haze, and told to follow the National Haze Action Plan and National Open Burning Action Plan if conditions worsen.
On the regional front, Arthur said Malaysia and Indonesia had held bilateral talks and agreed to step up joint monitoring and firefighting to curb hotspot growth. He added that Malaysia will send a formal letter to the Asean Secretariat urging southern ASEAN countries to intensify readiness against a strong El Niño and reduce haze intensity.
Alert Level 2 under the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution was triggered on Aug 3, requiring southern ASEAN members to file daily reports on fires, haze and emergency steps, he said. The NRES Ministry will track these updates alongside local weather, air quality and haze data.
The public has been advised to limit outdoor activity, wear face masks and keep hydrated as hot, dry conditions and haze develop. Real-time air quality readings are available on the government’s APIMS portal and MyJAS EQMS app. Official weather updates can be found via MET Malaysia’s website or the myCuaca app.