Malaysia Declares Local Emergency as Indonesian Fire Haze Spreads Across Region

Malaysia has declared a state of emergency in Serian Division, a district in the eastern state of Sarawak, as severe smoke from forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia drove local air pollution to hazardous levels. The declaration triggers district-wide shutdowns, including the closure of hundreds of schools, while atmospheric haze continues to impact several nations across Southeast Asia.

King Sultan Ibrahim granted approval for the emergency order following a request by the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee, according to a statement released on Thursday by the office of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The decision came after the district’s Air Pollutant Index recorded readings severe enough to endanger public health and safety.

Local Closures and Emergency Response

The emergency order mandates the shutdown of 647 schools across Serian Division starting Monday, with closures expected to last at least through the end of the week. Government agencies, private companies, agricultural plantations, construction sites, and quarries must also halt operations, leaving only essential public services functioning.

Disaster response agencies in Sarawak have extended a three-day cloud-seeding campaign that began on Thursday. Officials announced the operations will continue until at least Monday, aiming to induce rainfall as weather forecasts indicate favourable cloud formations over the region.

Speaking at a news conference in Kuching, Douglas Uggah Embas, chairman of the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee, specified that the emergency status applies strictly to Serian Division rather than the entirety of Sarawak. He urged affected residents to take precautions, stating, “Please minimise outdoor activities and avoid strenuous activities outdoors.”

Cross-Border Smoke Reaches Neighbouring Countries

While Serian faces the strictest curbs, air quality has deteriorated across larger parts of Malaysia. Sarawak, the nearby state of Sabah, and Peninsular Malaysia have experienced persistent smoke pollution for several weeks, while Brunei has also reported hazy conditions.

In Singapore, authorities announced plans to issue daily haze advisories starting Friday evening after 24-hour pollution metrics moved into the unhealthy range for the first time since 2023. Further north, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the cancellation of school classes on Friday across Metro Manila and more than 12 provinces due to degraded air conditions.

Source of Wildfires and Climate Outlook

The transboundary smoke originates from seasonal agricultural and land-clearing fires burning across Indonesia, concentrated primarily on the island of Sumatra and in the Kalimantan region of Borneo. Atmospheric scientists warn that regional temperatures are expected to reach their peak during September, raising concerns that hotter and drier conditions could further inflame the ongoing wildfire crisis.

Background

Transboundary haze is a recurring environmental and public health challenge in Southeast Asia, typically occurring during the dry season between June and October. The pollution is largely driven by land-clearing practices, including slash-and-burn agriculture and the draining of peatlands, primarily in Indonesia. Peat fires are particularly difficult to extinguish because they burn deep underground and generate dense plumes of smoke that can travel hundreds of miles across international borders depending on seasonal wind patterns.