Malaysia Urges Coordinated ASEAN Response to Haze
Malaysia's foreign minister pressed for a more proactive regional approach as unhealthy air spreads across parts of Southeast Asia.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Asthma
Air quality has reached unhealthy and hazardous levels in several areas of Southeast Asia. Malaysia's Foreign Minister, Mohamad Hasan, called for a more proactive and coordinated ASEAN response to transboundary haze.
Why it matters
Deteriorating air quality poses serious risks to public health, livelihoods and daily activities across the region. Land and forest fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra have caused severe transboundary haze in parts of Southeast Asia.
The reported evidence consists of official government statements and regional fire-response updates rather than measured pollution data. The source does not provide concentration readings or comparison baselines, and it is unclear how long the Kalimantan and Sumatra fires will continue.
The players
Mohamad Hasan
Mohamad Hasan is Malaysia's Foreign Minister, who called for a more proactive and coordinated ASEAN response to transboundary haze.
ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control
The ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control is the regional body tasked with coordinating responses to haze across Southeast Asia, and it has not yet been ratified.
The details
At the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Malaysia advanced proposals on Science Diplomacy and a Sustainable Haze Fund in an intervention, while Indonesia works to contain land and forest fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra. El Nino conditions are prevailing in the region, and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control has not yet been ratified.
Timeline
December: Malaysia will pursue its haze proposals at the Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.
2027: Malaysia will chair the Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution.
Big Picture
Malaysia's push builds on the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, which remains the region's main legal framework for haze, while proposals for a Sustainable Haze Fund and a coordinating centre that is still unratified show how implementation has lagged behind commitments.
Residents in haze-affected areas may need to limit time outdoors when air quality is unhealthy, particularly people with asthma or other respiratory conditions. Checking local air quality readings and keeping prescribed inhalers accessible can help reduce exposure risks during haze episodes.
The takeaway
Air quality during haze events can change quickly, so monitoring official readings and following local health advice is a practical step for anyone with asthma. Regional coordination on fires and haze remains a long-term effort that depends on the agreements being fully implemented.
Further reading
For more on how smoke and poor air affect breathing, see our Asthma coverage.
