THE people of Sarawak have once again been forced to breathe hazardous air caused by recurring forest and land fires across the border in Indonesia.
Kuching and all the towns and villages along the border areas have been badly affected by the choking haze, with the situation becoming so serious that emergency measures have had to be declared in parts of Sarawak.
This cannot continue to be treated as a seasonal inconvenience.
For decades, Sarawakians have endured the consequences of transboundary haze affecting our health, schools, businesses, transportation, tourism and the quality of life of our people.
We therefore ask a fundamental question. Who will protect Sarawakians, and who will be held accountable for the damage caused by recurring transboundary haze?
Indonesia is a sovereign nation, and any legal action against another government must comply with international law and the applicable jurisdictional rules.
However, that must not prevent Malaysia and Sarawak from pursuing every available legal and diplomatic avenue.
Malaysia and Indonesia are both parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, which establishes obligations to prevent, monitor and control activities that cause transboundary haze.
Therefore, we call upon the Malaysian and Sarawak Governments to:
1/ Demand full accountability and stronger enforcement against those responsible for land and forest fires causing transboundary haze.
2/ Invoke the mechanisms available under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution and formally raise Malaysia’s concerns with Indonesia.
3/ Establish an independent assessment of the damage suffered by Sarawak, including public-health, environmental, economic and educational impacts.
4/ Explore all appropriate legal avenues, including possible claims against companies or other parties responsible for fires where sufficient evidence exists.
5/ Seek appropriate compensation and remedies for communities and sectors that suffer demonstrable losses from recurring transboundary haze.
6/ Strengthen Sarawak’s own emergency response, including air-quality monitoring, public-health protection and assistance to affected communities.
We further demand that the Sarawak Government urgently pursue legal action against the Government of Indonesia, led by President Prabowo Subianto, and seek appropriate remedies through competent national, regional or international legal forums.
Any such action must be based on verified evidence, comply with international law and respect the applicable rules on jurisdiction and state responsibility.
Sarawak must not remain a passive victim while its people continue to suffer preventable harm.
We note that Indigenous and civil-society groups in Kalimantan Indonesia have themselves taken legal action against Indonesian authorities over alleged failures to prevent and respond adequately to recurring forest and land fires.
If Indonesian citizens have the right to seek accountability from their own government, then Sarawakians must also have the right to demand that their own governments protect them from cross-border environmental harm.
This is not an attack on the Indonesian people. It is a demand for responsibility, enforcement, cooperation and justice.
Sarawak has been dealing with this problem for far too long. Our children breathe the air. Our communities suffer the consequences. Our government must protect us.
We call on Malaysia and Indonesia to move beyond repeated statements of concern and cooperation and establish a clear, effective and accountable mechanism to prevent this from happening year after year.
The people of Sarawak deserve clean air.—Sept 20, 2026
Peter John Jaban, Sarawak for Sarawakians
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image: Bernama
