Access to clean air is fundamentally a human rights issue, says Suhakam on many areas recorded poor air quality in Sarawak

KUCHING, Sept 17 2026: Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has expressed its grave concern over the worsening haze situation affecting Malaysia, particularly in Sarawak, where several areas have recorded hazardous air quality levels. 

It said the current episode has caused severe air pollution in affected communities, necessitating emergency measures, including the closure of schools.

"Access to clean air is fundamentally a human rights issue. Haze pollution directly threatens the enjoyment of a range of human rights, including the rights to life, health, education, information, safe and healthy working conditions, and a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. 

"The current situation is a stark reminder that transboundary haze is largely a human-induced problem," it said in a statement today.

Suhakam said the underlying causes include unsustainable land-use practices, peatland degradation, agricultural expansion, land and forest fires, and inadequate accountability and environmental governance mechanisms. 

"While weather conditions may intensify haze episodes, they should not obscure the need to address these underlying and preventable causes," Suhakam said, adding that it is particularly concerned about the public health consequences of prolonged exposure to haze pollutants, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is associated with respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, increased hospital admissions and premature mortality. Previous severe haze episodes have also resulted in school closures, disruption to livelihoods, loss of economic productivity and significant healthcare costs.

"While environmental degradation affects everyone, its impacts are not experienced equally," it said, pointing out that children, pregnant women, older persons, persons with disabilities and individuals with existing health
vulnerabilities may face greater health risks. 

"Outdoor workers and lower-income communities may also have fewer options to reduce their exposure, particularly where their livelihoods," it stressed.

"The recurring haze crisis demonstrates that the right to clean air cannot be protected through reactive measures alone, " Suhakam said, adding that a coordinated, rights-based, whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach is urgently needed to address the structural causes of haze pollution and ensure that public health, environmental sustainability and human dignity are not sacrificed for short-term economic interests.