Regional Haze Crisis Strain Diplomatic Ties With Neighbors

The 2024 haze crisis continues to cast a shadow over Southeast Asia, forcing neighbouring countries to navigate delicate diplomatic waters.

Malaysia’s foreign minister, Mohamad Hasan, has maintained a measured approach, rejecting formal diplomatic protests or legal actions that could strain bilateral ties.

In response, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta have explored a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening wildfire‑prevention measures and enhancing joint early‑warning systems.

The ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, which entered into force in 2003, commits member states to collaborate on mitigating smoke produced by wildfires, especially those triggered by land‑clearing activities.

Many analysts consider the accord largely ineffective, noting its inability to hold commercial agribusinesses accountable or to compel individual governments to enforce stricter controls.

“The moment the haze disappears, political pressure eases and business as usual resumes,” he added.

The original 2020 target to eliminate regional haze has been delayed, prompting a revision to a 2030 deadline.

Complicating the diplomatic effort is Malaysia’s status as a leading palm‑oil exporter, a commodity closely linked to slash‑and‑burn practices that fuel seasonal fires.

In 2019, Malaysian authorities traced thick haze to blazes in Indonesian peatlands, only to be countered by Indonesian officials shifting the blame toward Malaysia’s own deforestation activities.

Ei Sun Oh, principal adviser at the Pacific Research Centre of Malaysia, argues that “as long as oil‑palm planting dominates the landscape, the haze will recur,” and notes that even a vocal Malaysia would lack the leverage Indonesia holds over its palm‑oil sector.

For now, Kuala Lumpur prefers not to provoke Jakarta, stating it simply waits for the wind to naturally disperse the pollution.

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