Malaysia will try to make rain by seeding clouds and prepare to shut schools as the quality of air in various places deteriorates, the Department of Environment said. Almost every dry season, smoke from fires to clear land for palm oil and pulp and paper plantations in Indonesia clouds the skies over much of the region, bringing risks to public health and worrying tourist operators and airlines.
A meteorological department senior official said that the government will send a cloud-seeding plane to the capital, Kuala Lumpur, on Tuesday. The aircraft will use chemicals that can trigger rainfall.
It would be the first time such an attempt is made in Malaysia, a country plagued by forest fires and haze for years. During intense burning last year, the smog blanketed parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, and southern Thailand, with visibility down to 500 meters in some areas.
Thousands of people were affected, and some schools were closed in Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya, and the administrative capital Putrajaya. The health ministry has warned the public to avoid outdoor activities and to take preventive measures such as wearing masks or staying indoors. The Malaysian government has also banned the release of specific pollution readings because adverse media reports hurt the tourism industry, a vital sector of the economy.
To reduce pollution, the government has told farmers to prioritize water supplies and industrial estates to increase their ability to store rainwater. It has also asked households and businesses to conserve electricity usage. The country is not alone, as some neighbors are also preparing for a possible haze crisis this week. Singapore has urged the public to stock up on face masks and have spare air purifiers, while Vietnam has asked people to turn off electrical appliances at peak hours.
The haze has caused several sports events to be postponed, including the prestigious FINA World Championships in swimming, in which four-time Olympic gold medalist Missy Franklin is participating. Some marathons and local football league matches have been canceled, too.
Malaysian officials have suggested that the country might emulate Singapore in adopting technologies to measure air quality and imposing penalties on companies that cause severe haze pollution. The deputy prime minister has also called for Indonesia to work with Malaysia on long-term solutions, addressing deforestation and illegal peatland burns.
A recent government audit found that more than 80% of Indonesian palm oil companies do not comply with national environmental laws and use land for non-industrial purposes. This has prompted many to move away from risky landbank expansion. Instead, companies may focus on improved growth and yield, achieving buyer NDPE (no deforestation) policies and alternative growth strategies. This will help reduce stranded assets recognized as poor loan collateral by banks and improve investor confidence in the industry.
