Kuala Lumpur:Malaysia plans to leverage its role as chair and host of the 28th Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee (MSC) meeting next year to strengthen ASEAN's collective efforts in addressing transboundary haze issues.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup emphasized the importance of regional cooperation to prevent haze incidents from recurring. He stated that the focus should be on collective action rather than attributing blame, urging each ASEAN member to fulfill their responsibilities in enhancing prevention, preparedness, and early action.

Efforts will include improving data and information sharing, strengthening domestic law enforcement, and increasing cooperation among ASEAN states. These measures aim to transform commitments under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) into effective actions.

Malaysia has also proposed 'Science Diplomacy' and a 'Sustainable Haze Fund' at the previous MSC meeting in Bali. These initiatives aim to incorporate scientific evidence into ASEAN policy-making and provide consistent funding for regional haze management. Both proposals are currently under review by the ASEAN Secretariat.

Further discussions on these proposals are scheduled for the 21st Committee Meeting and the Conference of the Parties to the AATHP in Vietnam this December. To address transboundary haze in Sarawak, Malaysia has increased air quality monitoring and conducted Cloud Seeding Operations.

Diplomatically, Malaysia engaged with Indonesia, including direct consultations with Indonesia’s Environment Minister and a formal offer of assistance, which includes aerial firefighting support. The Indonesian government accepted this offer, and both countries are now coordinating aid deployment through their Foreign Ministries.