Malaysia Under Haze as Unhealthy Air Spreads Across Monitoring Stations

Haze Reaches More Parts Of Malaysia

Haze has returned to parts of Malaysia, with air quality worsening at monitoring stations across the country. On August 12, 12 stations recorded unhealthy or worse readings, according to Malaysia’s latest air quality data. Eleven stations were in the unhealthy range, while one in Sarawak reached the very unhealthy level. Sarawak has been hit hardest, with several locations reporting poor air quality. But the haze is not staying in Borneo.

Putrajaya and Cheras in Peninsular Malaysia also recorded unhealthy readings. Kuala Lumpur had hazy conditions on August 11, while Selangor was among the areas that recorded unhealthy air the previous day. Malaysia has been experiencing haze since August 8. The country uses the Air Pollutant Index, or API, to show how polluted the air is. A reading from 101 to 200 is considered unhealthy, while 201 to 300 is classed as very unhealthy. The latest readings show that air quality has become a concern in several parts of Malaysia rather than one isolated location.

Fires Burn Across Indonesian Borneo

Across the border, Indonesia is dealing with a separate but closely linked problem. Forest and land fires are burning in several provinces, including West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan. These provinces are on Borneo, the same island where Sarawak is located. Reuters reported that more than 107,000 hectares of land had burned in Indonesia between January and June 2026. Indonesian authorities have sent aircraft and helicopters to help tackle the fires. They have also attempted cloud seeding in some areas, hoping to bring rain to places affected by the fires.

Smoke from the fires has reached parts of Sarawak, adding to the haze affecting the Malaysian state. The close distance between Kalimantan and Sarawak means smoke can cross the border when weather conditions allow it. Still, it would be inaccurate to say Indonesian fires are behind every unhealthy reading in Malaysia. Air quality can also be affected by local fires, traffic, other pollution sources and weather conditions. The Indonesian fires are one part of a wider regional haze situation that is being watched by authorities on both sides of the border.

Wind Direction Could Shift The Haze

What happens next will depend partly on the weather. Winds can move smoke over long distances, and southerly winds may carry smoke from Indonesia towards parts of Malaysia. Sarawak is especially exposed because Indonesian Kalimantan lies directly across the border. Kuching and other parts of western Sarawak have already recorded poor air quality during the current haze. On August 11, Kuching was reported among the major cities with unhealthy air quality. The haze may not remain in the same places, however. Wind direction can change, taking smoke towards another area, while rain can help clear particles from the air.

The same weather conditions can also affect fires on the ground, making them easier or harder to control. Peninsular Malaysia is also being watched after unhealthy readings were recorded in Putrajaya and Cheras. This means the movement of the haze will not depend on the fires alone. Rainfall, wind direction and local pollution will all affect what different parts of Malaysia experience over the next few days.

Malaysia And Indonesia Continue Monitoring

Authorities in Malaysia are keeping a close watch on air quality as the number of affected locations changes. The Health Ministry has also increased surveillance for haze-related illnesses at health facilities following the recent deterioration in air quality. In Indonesia, firefighting teams are still working to contain fires across the affected provinces. The situation remains changeable, with weather playing a major role in both countries.

Rain could improve air quality in some areas, while continued dry conditions could allow fires to remain active. For Malaysia, Sarawak is likely to remain an important area to watch because of its location beside Indonesian Kalimantan. At the same time, unhealthy readings in Peninsular Malaysia show that haze is not only a Borneo issue. The latest figures are based on individual monitoring stations, so conditions can differ between nearby places. As Indonesia continues its firefighting efforts, Malaysian authorities are tracking new API readings and watching whether smoke moves into more parts of the country.

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