KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia should introduce a comprehensive Clean Air Act to strengthen accountability for activities contributing to haze and establish a stronger legal framework to address recurring air pollution, Greenpeace Malaysia said.
Its country representative Heng Kiah Chun said such legislation could hold Malaysian individuals and businesses accountable for overseas operations linked to haze pollution, while discouraging practices that heighten the risk of fires, Bernama reported.
“Malaysia has previously acknowledged that cross-border environmental legislation is possible. The opportunity now is to build on this recognition and take the necessary steps to turn it into reality,” he said in an open letter to Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup on Wednesday.
Heng said the proposal was also aligned with a recommendation by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) in its Right to Clean Air report.
He added that the haze crisis highlighted concerns over corporate responsibility and governance, with several Malaysian-linked companies operating in the region coming under scrutiny over activities associated with peatland degradation and increased fire risks.
Heng said Malaysia could position itself as a regional leader by encouraging responsible plantation practices and ensuring Malaysian-linked companies maintain high environmental standards across their operations.
He also called for greater protection and restoration of peatlands, particularly in areas vulnerable to fires during prolonged dry periods, while stressing the need for effective wildfire detection and monitoring systems to allow early intervention.
The call comes as scientists warn that severe “Godzilla El Niño” conditions could increase the risk of drought, forest fires and transboundary haze across Southeast Asia, with climate change potentially intensifying the impact of such events.
Heng welcomed the ministry’s focus on early preparedness, inter-agency coordination, peatland fire prevention and other measures discussed during the first National Haze and Dry Weather Steering Committee (JIJCKK) meeting on June 15, 2026.
However, he said that while the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution remained an important regional framework, more action was needed to address recurring haze episodes by strengthening environmental rights, regional cooperation and accountability.
“The question is not whether another haze season will come, but whether we will act early enough to reduce its impacts on people, communities and the environment.
“By protecting public health, safeguarding forests and peatlands, and strengthening environmental accountability, Malaysia can help ensure a cleaner, healthier and more resilient future for all,” he added. — August 26, 2026