AGP Executive Report

Transboundary Haze Crisis: Forest and peatland fires in Indonesia’s Kalimantan and Sumatra are again choking parts of Southeast Asia, with smoke drifting into Singapore and Malaysia and forcing school closures and health warnings. Malaysia’s Emergency Response: Malaysia declared a haze emergency in Serian, Sarawak when the API hit hazardous levels (peaking around 519), closing hundreds of schools and offices, then lifted it as readings fell—while stressing air quality is still very unhealthy in some areas. Brunei in the Spillover: The haze episode has also reached Brunei and other neighbours, underscoring how quickly one country’s fires can disrupt transport and daily life across borders. Volcanic Disruption: Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau eruption extended airport closures and flight disruptions, adding another layer of regional instability alongside the smoke. Energy & Climate Finance: Leaders at a sustainability summit urged harmonised rules to unlock capital for Asia’s energy transition and adaptation, framing resilience as a value driver rather than a cost. Local Green Tech Angle: Brunei’s UNN and Vobile signed agreements aimed at building AI-ready digital infrastructure, supporting greener innovation capacity.

Transboundary Haze Crisis: Indonesia’s worsening forest and peat fires are keeping haze in the spotlight across Borneo and beyond, with Malaysia lifting its Sarawak Serian haze emergency after API readings fell from hazardous levels—though air quality remains “very unhealthy” in parts of the state. Public Health Impacts: In Indonesia, smoke has already disrupted schooling, with schools switching to remote learning in affected areas as children face higher respiratory risks. Fire Drivers & Accountability: Reports point to dry conditions linked to El Niño and illegal land burning tied to oil palm expansion, with arrests and findings that many hotspots sit inside corporate concessions. Regional Response Test: Commentaries stress haze is now a cross-border challenge that ASEAN must manage together, not just a domestic problem. Energy & Climate Resilience: Separate regional coverage at a Singapore summit argues energy security and climate adaptation need harmonised rules to unlock major clean-energy and resilience funding. Local Relevance: Brunei’s tourism department is also seeking stakeholder proposals for Visit Brunei Year 2027, highlighting the country’s natural environment as a draw.

Transboundary Haze Crisis (Sarawak): Malaysia lifted its Serian Division haze emergency after the Air Pollution Index fell from a peak of 521 (hazardous) to around 222–302, but officials warned air quality in parts of Sarawak is still “very unhealthy,” urging residents to limit outdoor activity. School Disruptions: During the worst days, Sarawak shut 647 schools across 12 districts, sending nearly 200,000 children home; some areas later shifted back toward in-person learning as readings eased. Fire Causes & Accountability: Indonesia’s forestry ministry and police pointed to illegal land clearing and arson linked to oil palm, with 72 arrests reported; an environmental group said most hotspots sat inside corporate concessions. Regional Spillover: Smoke and haze continued to spread across Borneo and beyond, with reports of unhealthy air affecting Malaysia and reaching Singapore and Brunei, while Indonesia’s dry conditions were worsened by El Niño. Brunei Relevance: With Brunei named among affected areas in regional haze reports, the episode underscores how quickly local health and daily life can be hit by fires across the border.

Transboundary Haze Crisis in Borneo: Malaysia lifted its haze emergency in Sarawak’s Serian Division after the Air Pollutant Index fell from a peak of 519 (Sept 4) to around 302 the next day, but officials warned air quality is still “very unhealthy” in parts of Sarawak and residents should limit outdoor activity. School Disruptions: During the worst readings, Sarawak shut 647 schools across 12 districts, sending nearly 200,000 children home; some areas later shifted back to classes as API eased. Root Causes and Accountability: Indonesia linked the fires to illegal land clearing for oil palm, with police arresting 72 people over arson cases and reports that most hotspots were inside corporate concessions—while El Niño-dried peat made underground fires harder to extinguish. Regional Pressure on ASEAN: Multiple reports stress haze is a recurring, cross-border problem that tests whether ASEAN can coordinate faster action when smoke spreads beyond national lines.

Transboundary Haze Crisis: Malaysia has lifted its haze emergency in Sarawak’s Serian after air pollution readings fell from very hazardous levels, but officials warn conditions are still “very unhealthy” in parts of the state and residents should limit outdoor activity. Regional Fire Impact on Daily Life: Indonesia’s worsening forest and peatland fires in Kalimantan are driving persistent smoke, with schools forced into remote learning in multiple areas as air quality deteriorates and health risks rise. ASEAN Response Test: Analysts say the recurring haze shows ASEAN’s challenge: coordinating faster action on problems that start in one country but harm several, including Brunei. Volcanic Disruption: Anak Krakatau’s ash has also disrupted travel across Indonesia, extending airport closures and affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers. Brunei Green Tourism Push: Brunei’s tourism department is inviting stakeholders to submit proposals for Visit Brunei Year 2027, aiming to showcase the country’s natural environment alongside cultural heritage. Local Clean Mobility: Honda Brunei has introduced the all-new ZR-V hybrid and Super-ONE EV, adding more electric mobility options to the local market.

Transboundary Haze Crisis: Indonesia’s toxic haze from Kalimantan fires is still disrupting life across the region, with Malaysia declaring and then lifting a Serian emergency as air pollution eased from peak levels—though “very unhealthy” readings remain in parts of Sarawak, and residents are urged to limit outdoor activity and keep monitoring. Local Impacts in Education: Schools in Indonesia’s haze-hit areas have shifted to remote learning, while in Malaysia’s Sarawak, hundreds of schools closed during the worst conditions. Fire Response Gaps: Indonesia’s Vice President Gibran apologized to Kalimantan residents, pointing to persistent underground peat fires and calling for specialized subterranean wetting plus better irrigation canal management. Regional Disaster Planning: Indonesia’s President Prabowo ordered a comprehensive disaster mitigation masterplan amid overlapping crises—earthquake recovery, volcanic disruptions, and ongoing fires. Volcanic Disruption: Anak Krakatau’s ash forced extended airport closures and flight cancellations across western Indonesia, adding another layer to regional disruption. Brunei Angle: Brunei’s tourism department is inviting stakeholders to propose events for Visit Brunei Year 2027, highlighting the country’s natural environment as a key draw.

Transboundary Haze Crisis: Indonesia’s toxic haze from Kalimantan land and peat fires is still lingering, with Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka apologizing as hotspots persist underground and burned area climbs past 202,000 hectares; smoke has repeatedly crossed borders, pushing regional alerts and disrupting daily life. Malaysia–Brunei Air Quality Fallout: Malaysia lifted its Serian emergency after API readings fell (from a peak above 500), but “very unhealthy” levels remain in parts of Sarawak, while haze continues to affect Malaysia, Brunei and beyond—prompting stay-indoors guidance and health precautions. Education Disrupted by Smoke: In Indonesia, worsening haze has forced schools in places like Palembang and West Kalimantan to switch to remote learning, affecting hundreds of thousands of students as health risks rise. Disaster Preparedness Push: Indonesia ordered a comprehensive disaster mitigation masterplan amid overlapping crises—fires, volcanic activity from Anak Krakatau, and earthquake recovery—highlighting how climate and environmental shocks strain regional resilience. Brunei Tourism Call: Brunei’s tourism department is inviting stakeholders to propose events for Visit Brunei Year 2027, aiming to showcase the country’s natural environment alongside culture.

Transboundary Haze Crisis: Indonesia’s worsening forest and peatland fires have kept smoke thick across Borneo and beyond, pushing air quality to unhealthy levels and forcing schools into remote learning in places like Palembang and Pontianak, while haze also reached Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines—turning a local fire season into a regional health emergency. Malaysia’s Emergency Measures: Malaysia lifted the Sarawak Serian Division haze emergency as API readings fell (down to the low 200s), but officials warned conditions remain very unhealthy in several areas and residents should limit outdoor activity. Education Disruptions: In Sarawak and elsewhere, hazardous air has closed hundreds of schools and shifted classes online or modular distance learning to protect children and vulnerable groups. Volcanic Disruption Adds Pressure: Separately, Anak Krakatau’s ash led to extended airport closures and flight disruptions in Indonesia, compounding travel and public disruption during an already strained period. Brunei Tourism Call: Brunei’s tourism department invited stakeholders to submit proposals for Visit Brunei Year 2027, highlighting the country’s natural environment and local experiences. Local Green Mobility: Honda Brunei unveiled the all-new ZR-V hybrid and Super-ONE EV, bringing new e-mobility options to the local market.

Transboundary Haze Crisis: Malaysia lifted its Sarawak Serian emergency after the Air Pollutant Index fell from a peak of 519, but officials warned air quality is still “very unhealthy” in several areas and residents should limit outdoor activity. School Disruptions: In Indonesia, worsening haze from forest and peatland fires pushed schools in Palembang and other regions to remote learning, affecting hundreds of thousands of students as smoke drifted across borders. Regional Response Under Pressure: ASEAN’s haze alert was raised to Level 3 as Indonesia’s fires continued, with Indonesia saying it is meeting daily reporting duties under the ASEAN haze agreement—while analysts argue the region still needs stronger accountability, not just crisis coordination. Health and Daily Life Hit: Reports from Sarawak described residents struggling with breathing issues and even smelling smoke indoors, showing how quickly haze can disrupt transport, work, and community routines.

Transboundary Haze Crisis: Malaysia lifted its Serian, Sarawak haze emergency after API readings fell (down to the low 200s), but officials stressed air quality is still “very unhealthy” in parts of Sarawak and residents should limit outdoor activity. Regional Wildfire Impact: Reports describe weeks of Indonesian wildfires across Kalimantan and Sumatra driving hazardous smoke that disrupted schools, health services, and daily life across borders, with El Niño-linked dry conditions worsening fire spread. Air Quality Monitoring in the Region: Malaysia’s emergency was triggered when Serian’s API hit 521 (above the 500 threshold), while other Sarawak areas also recorded very unhealthy levels, showing how quickly haze can escalate. Brunei & Sustainability Watch: Brunei’s tourism department is inviting stakeholder proposals for Visit Brunei Year 2027, aiming to highlight the country’s natural environment alongside culture and local products. Local Green Mobility: Honda Brunei launched the all-new ZR-V hybrid SUV and the Super-ONE EV, adding more electric mobility options for drivers in Brunei.

Transboundary Haze Crisis: Malaysia lifted its Sarawak haze emergency in Serian after air readings fell (API down to the low 200s), but officials stressed conditions are still “very unhealthy” in parts of Sarawak and residents should limit outdoor activity. Regional Fire Impacts: Reports say Indonesia’s 2026 Kalimantan fires are driving hazardous smoke across borders, forcing school closures and worsening health risks, with dry El Niño conditions making fires harder to control. ASEAN Response Pressure: Indonesia reiterated it is following the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, including regional Alert Level 3 reporting and daily situation updates—while critics argue cooperation isn’t enough without stronger enforcement. Brunei Angle: Brunei has also been experiencing hazy conditions since mid-August, underscoring the shared air problem across Borneo. Local Green Planning: Brunei’s tourism department is inviting stakeholders to propose events for Visit Brunei Year 2027, highlighting Brunei’s natural environment and local experiences. Other Environment-Adjacent Disruption: Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau eruption also disrupted flights, adding ash-related travel strain across the region.

Transboundary Haze Crisis: Malaysia lifted its Sarawak Serian emergency after the Air Pollutant Index fell to the low 200s, but officials warned air quality is still “very unhealthy” in several areas and residents should limit outdoor activity. Regional Health Impacts: Schools were closed and classes moved online in Sarawak and beyond as smoke from Indonesia’s fires choked Borneo and drifted toward Brunei and Singapore, with respiratory complaints rising. Fire Season Pressure: Indonesia’s 2026 fire season is testing ASEAN’s haze-control system, with satellite hotspots and carbon-emission surges tied to dry El Niño conditions and ongoing land-clearing practices. Volcanic Disruption: Separately, Anak Krakatau ash forced extended closures and flight cancellations at Jakarta’s main airport and other hubs, stranding hundreds of thousands of travelers. Local Green Tourism: Brunei’s tourism department is inviting stakeholders to submit proposals for Visit Brunei Year 2027, highlighting cultural heritage and the country’s natural environment. Toxic Online Sales: A toxics watchdog condemned the online sale of mercury-laced banned skin lighteners, urging platforms to block harmful listings.

Transboundary Haze Update: Malaysia has lifted the Sarawak emergency in Serian after air readings fell to the low 200s (API 222 on Monday, down from 519), but officials stress the haze hasn’t fully cleared and several areas remain “very unhealthy,” urging residents to limit outdoor activity. School Disruptions: Earlier closures across Sarawak and other parts of the region were triggered by hazardous smoke from Indonesian wildfires, with home-based learning used where classes were suspended. Regional Fire Pressure: Reports say Indonesia’s fires are still driving extreme haze across Borneo and beyond, linked to dry conditions and El Niño, with millions at health risk and major carbon emissions from ongoing burning. Volcanic Disruption: Separately, Indonesia extended airport closures after Mount Anak Krakatau’s eruption, affecting flights across Java and Sumatra. Brunei Angle: While not directly tied to the haze, Brunei’s environmental context remains in the spotlight as smoke has been reported reaching the country since mid-August.

Transboundary Haze Emergency (Malaysia–Borneo): Malaysia declared a state of emergency in Serian Division, Sarawak after the Air Pollutant Index hit 521 (emergency threshold), with Kuching also recording hazardous readings; 647 schools were set to close and residents were urged to stay indoors and use N95 masks while essential services continued. Regional Health Impacts (ASEAN): The haze from Indonesia’s fires has been worsening across the region, pushing air quality into unhealthy-to-hazardous ranges and disrupting daily life and schooling in multiple places, including warnings that conditions could persist into September. Fire Drivers & Climate Link: Reports point to severe dry conditions tied to El Niño, alongside ongoing land-clearing practices, as major factors behind the fires and the scale of smoke spreading over Borneo and beyond. Brunei Relevance: Coverage notes haze has also been affecting Brunei since mid-August, underscoring the cross-border nature of the problem. Local Green Tech (Brunei): Separately, Toyota Brunei launched the all-electric Urban Cruiser BEV, adding another electrified option for local drivers.

Transboundary Haze Emergency: Malaysia declared a state of emergency in Sarawak’s Serian district after the Air Pollutant Index hit 521, with Kuching also recording hazardous readings, as smoke from Indonesia’s Borneo and Sumatra fires pushed air quality into dangerous territory. Health Impacts: Residents reported breathing trouble and sore throats, while authorities warned people to stay indoors and use N95 masks; schools and non-essential workplaces were ordered to close in the affected area. Regional Spread: The haze has been drifting across Southeast Asia, with Singapore and parts of the Philippines also seeing unhealthy conditions, and forecasts pointing to worsening through September. ASEAN Response: Indonesia said it is working through the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, with the regional Alert Level 3 triggering daily reporting and haze tracking. Brunei Context: The same smoke has been affecting Brunei since mid-August, underscoring how quickly the crisis crosses borders.

Transboundary Haze Crisis: Malaysia declared an emergency in Serian, Sarawak after the Air Pollutant Index hit 521 (hazardous), with Kuching also recording dangerous readings; schools and many non-essential workplaces were ordered to close and cloud-seeding was extended as smoke from Indonesia’s Borneo and Sumatra fires continues to drift across the region. Regional Air Quality Worsens: In Sarawak, six areas logged “very unhealthy” API levels, while ASEAN monitoring reported moderate to thick haze moving toward Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei. Why It’s Getting Worse: Reports link the spike to prolonged dry conditions and “super” El Niño, with Indonesia seeing extreme fire emissions and hundreds of thousands of hotspots, while analysts warn this is no longer just a seasonal nuisance. ASEAN Response Under Pressure: Indonesia said it is meeting its ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution duties under Regional Alert Level 3, including daily reporting and hotspot tracking—yet campaigners argue enforcement and accountability still lag behind the recurring harm. Local Green Angle: Amid the haze, Brunei also saw a push toward cleaner transport with the launch of the all-electric Toyota Urban Cruiser BEV.