Malaysia urged to police its companies over Indonesia forest fires as haze shuts schools

Severe wildfires in Indonesia, exacerbated by an intense El Niño phenomenon, have burned nearly 896,000 hectares of land and triggered a major regional haze crisis. Toxic smog has forced school closures across several Malaysian states, elevated Singapore's PSI levels to unhealthy ranges, and caused a sharp increase in respiratory illnesses. Environmental groups are urging Malaysia to police domestic firms linked to fires, while Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto faces a class-action lawsuit over government negligence.

Indonesian government actions against fires

• ▪Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto established a national agency to oversee peatland and mangrove conservation and lead forest fire prevention efforts.
• ▪Indonesian authorities suspended 57 companies after environmental inspections uncovered burned land within their concession areas.

Drivers and scale of the wildfires

• ▪An unusually intense El Niño weather phenomenon created drier conditions across Southeast Asia in 2026, exacerbating regional forest fires and spreading toxic smog.
• ▪Wildfires in Indonesia are frequently set using slash-and-burn practices as a low-cost method to clear land for palm oil agricultural planting.
• ▪Satellite-detected thermal hotspots indicating fires in Indonesia reached their highest monthly total since 2015 during September 2026.
• ▪Indonesia's satellite-estimated burned forest area surged by August 2026, up from reported burned between January and July 2026.

Singapore haze impact and preparedness

• ▪Singapore healthcare institutions activated haze preparedness measures, deploying air purifiers and portable air coolers while restricting outdoor activities when PSI readings rise.
• ▪Singapore's 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index reached 192 in central Singapore on October 9, 2026, setting a new high for the 2026 haze season.
• ▪Singapore's Ministry of Education considers closing schools if the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index is forecast to exceed 300 in the hazardous range.

International assistance and diplomatic talks

• ▪Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim discussed the transboundary haze with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on October 8, 2026 to address regional air quality concerns.
• ▪Singapore Minister Grace Fu stated on October 10, 2026 that Singapore stands ready to assist Indonesia in fighting ongoing forest fires.
• ▪Japan deployed three Chinook helicopters in September 2026 to support water-bombing firefighting operations in Indonesia's West Kalimantan province.

Demands for corporate accountability

• ▪Greenpeace Malaysia and civil society groups marched to parliament on October 7, 2026 to demand legislation targeting companies linked to fire hotspots in Indonesia.
• ▪Environmental groups Greenpeace and Pantau Gambut identified operational links between Malaysian and Singaporean corporate interests and fire hotspots in Kalimantan, Indonesia.

West Kalimantan wildfire lawsuit

• ▪Judges in Pontianak adjourned the opening hearing of the West Kalimantan wildfire lawsuit until October 21, 2026 after none of the 10 defendants appeared in court on October 7, 2026.
• ▪Indigenous and civil society groups filed a class action lawsuit in West Kalimantan naming President Prabowo Subianto and 10 defendants over government negligence regarding wildfires.

Malaysian haze disruptions

• ▪Malaysian authorities cancelled weekend sporting events on October 8, 2026 as recurring toxic haze from Indonesian forest fires disrupted daily activities.
• ▪Malaysian authorities ordered school closures across Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Pahang's Rompin district on October 8, 2026 due to haze.

Haze impact on sporting events

• ▪Singapore Minister Grace Fu announced on October 9, 2026 that authorities were monitoring haze levels ahead of the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix without altering outdoor event plans.
• ▪Toxic haze from Indonesian forest fires caused a spike in respiratory illnesses and disrupted outdoor sporting events and commercial flights across Southeast Asia.

Debatable claims

• ▪Malaysia should enact legislation penalizing domestic companies linked to Indonesian forest fires
• ▪Indonesia's government failed its legal duty to prevent recurring forest fires