Toxic haze from Indonesian forest and land fires has blanketed Malaysia, triggering respiratory illness spikes, school closures, and mounting economic losses. A Malaysian lawmaker addressed the crisis in the Dewan Rakyat using Javanese, while governments exchanged policy demands and offers of aerial firefighting assistance.
Kalam Salan Switches to Javanese in Malaysia’s Dewan Rakyat
Lawmaker Kalam Salan brought an unusual linguistic approach to Malaysia’s Dewan Rakyat during the debate over the 2027 budget. Speaking from the opposition benches as a representative for Sabak Bernam, the politician delivered part of his address in Javanese to urge immediate action against the transboundary smoke crossing from Indonesia.
Before switching idioms, Kalam noted that the pollution affects people beyond just Malaysians. He then addressed Indonesian leadership directly.
Peace be upon you, Mr. Prabowo, how are you? May you be granted good health, yes?
Kalam Salan, the Member of Parliament for Sabak Bernam, told Detik.
The speech reflected growing frustration across Malaysia as air quality indexes climbed, forcing authorities to shutter schools in heavily polluted sectors.
Normazura Mohd Tahir and Nor Amira Face Severe Health Tolls
Di kawasan seperti Lembah Klang, Malaysia, warga terpaksa membatasi aktivitas di luar ruangan karena paparan kabut asap akibat kebakaran hutan dan lahan. Nor Amira described the claustrophobia of heavy pollution despite indoor air filtration.
Amira relies on inhalers to manage asthma. For 65-year-old Normazura Mohd Tahir, the smoke triggered severe eczema flare-ups requiring frequent trips to medical clinics. Normazura reported spending between RM200 and RM300 monthly on specialized skin creams and medical fees, a financial strain mirrored by pet owners in the Klang Valley whose cats and dogs suffered from irritated skin and respiratory distress.
Malaysian Officials Offer Firefighting Support While Lawmakers Debate Regional Isolation
Kuala Lumpur’s diplomatic response combined offers of operational help with sharper political friction. Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh outlined Malaysia’s three-pronged approach during a parliamentary session, noting that the government formally offered aerial firefighting, amphibious aircraft, and cloud-seeding assistance to Jakarta on September 9, 2026. Indonesian authorities granted written approval for airspace utilization regarding cloud seeding on August 14.
Yet political tensions escalated when lawmaker Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman urged regional partners to apply strong diplomatic pressure and treat Indonesia as an isolated state within ASEAN. That call drew immediate pushback from business leaders and former officials in Jakarta.
Muhammad Lutfi Defends Indonesian Sovereignty and Points to Palm Oil Supply Chains
Muhammad Lutfi rejected suggestions that Indonesia should face diplomatic ostracization from ASEAN. Lutfi argued that cross-border fires require targeted investigations into corporate supply chains rather than sweeping penalties against an entire nation.
Lutfi pointed out that Malaysian business groups hold up to 3.4 million hectares of palm oil concessions inside Indonesia, shipping crude palm oil (CPO) to processing refineries in Europe. He argued that complaints raised in Europe regarding Indonesian palm oil often originate from companies tied directly to those same plantation concessions.
Look at who is filing complaints in Europe. It is the same group of companies that take crude palm oil from Indonesian soil to supply their refineries in Europe,
Muhammad Lutfi, the former Indonesian Trade Minister, told Demokratis.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Sugiono responded to the highlights from the Malaysian parliament regarding the land and forest fires in Indonesia that triggered the haze.
Malaysia Faces Daily Losses up to RM50 Million
The crisis carries financial consequences. An economist from Sunway University, Dr. Yeah Kim Leng, estimated that Malaysia’s daily losses range from RM20 million to RM50 million.
In Indonesia, the domestic business community reported vulnerabilities. Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Chairman Anindya Novyan Bakrie noted that business leaders should rely on strong regional channels through the ASEAN Business Advisory Council rather than public friction.
I feel that going back and forth with narratives, especially in the media, I feel does not bring a solution,
Anindya Novyan Bakrie, the Chairman of Kadin Indonesia, told CNBC Indonesia.
Data from Kadin’s Business Pulse Survey for the third quarter of 2026 showed that the most significant impact felt by business actors was an increase in operational costs by 13.5%, followed by a decrease in sales or demand by 11.8% and disruptions to transportation and logistics by 10.8%.