14/08/2026

FRIDAY | AUG 14, 2026

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‘Haze driven by El Nino and deforestation’

Company allays fears over genetically modified rice trial

█ BY T.C. KHOR newsdesk@thesundaily.com

worse haze conditions and provide predictions of its movement. Maqrun Fadzli also advised the public to avoid open burning and reduce outdoor activities to avoid health risks due to unsatisfactory air quality. As of this afternoon, data from the Air Pollutant Index Management System portal showed 10 areas recording unhealthy levels, involving Samarahan, Serian, Kuching, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Mukah and Sibu in Sarawak, as well as Johan Setia in Selangor, Cheras in Kuala Lumpur and Minden in Penang. – Bernama He added that biotechnology is not intended to replace conventional agronomic practices. Instead, it supports integrated weed management and sustainable farming practices. On Wednesday, Agriculture and Food Security Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak said Malaysia currently does not allow the use of genetically modified rice, but controlled research is important to help the government understand the technology’s potential in ensuring future food security, as reported by Berita Harian. PETALING JAYA: Zen Cropscience Sdn Bhd has sought to allay concerns over the potential cross-pollination of genetically modified (GM) rice, saying the proposed trial plot is 70km from the nearest rice cultivation area. Its director Lee Kim Chai said concerns were raised by a coalition of 61 farmers, consumer and environmental organisations that opposed the proposed confined field trial of GM MR219 rice at Kampung Kepayang, Perak. He said there would be no cross-pollination in the current trial as it would be conducted in an enclosed environment. “Our plot is 70km away from the nearest rice cultivation area.” The farmers had raised concerns over the risk of genetic contamination of conventional and wild rice through cross-pollination, as well as the potential effects of glyphosate-tolerant rice. Lee said concerns over pesticide resistance are more complicated as resistance among weeds is mainly linked to farming practices rather than the crop variety itself. He said good agricultural practices include rotating pesticides and using pesticides with different modes of action. “Actually, GM crops use less pesticide.” He added that conventional practices involve the use of different herbicides. Lee said the technology used by Zen Cropscience is intended to address some of the problems faced by rice farmers, including weedy rice, bacterial blight and rice blast disease. These concerns were among those raised by the coalition in its objection submitted to the Biosafety Department on Aug 7. He emphasised that the proposed trial is strictly a small-scale confined field trial and not intended for commercial cultivation, market distribution or entry into the human or animal food supply chain. He added that all harvested plant material would be safely contained and destroyed in compliance with regulatory requirements. “The trial would be subject to multi-layered containment measures, including strict spatial isolation buffers, physical barriers, vector control, dedicated equipment and post-harvest monitoring,” he noted. Lee said the research is intended to generate scientific evidence on the rice’s performance under Malaysian field conditions and assess its safety, efficacy and viability.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s latest haze episode is being driven by a combination of prolonged dry weather linked to El Nino and ongoing deforestation, with environmentalist saying climate change could make such episodes more frequent and severe. RimbaWatch director Adam Farhan said while haze in Sabah and Sarawak appears to be originating from Indonesia, wind data suggests that the haze affecting Kuala Lumpur could instead be linked to peat swamp fires near Banting. He said transboundary haze remains a persistent regional problem, but stressed that dry conditions and forest degradation are contributing to the increased risk of fires. “Indonesian authorities have cited El Niño as a significant cause of the current forest burning as it has contributed to a longer dry spell and decreased rainfall.” However, he emphasised that independent data, including from Global Forest Watch, continues to show extensive deforestation across Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan and Peninsular Malaysia. “Both of these events are drivers of forest burning and eventual haze.” Adam added that climate change could worsen the situation by increasing the frequency of extreme weather events. He noted that 2024 recorded an average global temperature more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, while Malaysia is expected to face increasingly unpredictable rainfall patterns by 2050 and 2100, with some areas facing higher rainfall and others greater drought risks. He said Malaysia, Indonesia and Asean must move beyond responding to haze episodes after air quality deteriorates and instead address the underlying causes of forest fires and climate change. He called for an immediate and permanent ban on the conversion and degradation of natural forests, alongside stronger recognition of Indigenous communities’ rights over their traditional territories. He also urged countries in the region to o NGO calls for permanent ban on degradation of natural forests and stronger recognition of indigenous rights over traditional territories █ BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Sharifa advised the public to remain indoors as much as possible, drink plenty of plain water and use suitable respiratory masks when going outside. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

201–300 very unhealthy and 301–500 hazardous. She said prolonged exposure to haze could have serious respiratory and cardiovascular consequences, particularly among children, older people and those with existing respiratory or heart conditions. These could include asthma attacks, reduced lung function, stroke, high blood pressure, heart attacks and premature deaths, she said. In the short term, exposure to haze could cause coughing, wheezing, sore throat, irritated or red eyes, chest discomfort, shortness of breath and skin irritation. Sharifa advised the public to remain indoors as much as possible, drink plenty of plain water and use suitable respirator masks when going outside. She also recommended using air purifiers and effective air filters indoors, while avoiding open burning. She said for vulnerable individuals, medical advice should be sought to prevent respiratory attacks, while those severely affected may need to temporarily relocate to areas with cleaner air. “If exposure is long term, more cases would present with cardiovascular and respiratory problems and premature deaths.” She added that while some short-term symptoms caused by poor air quality could be temporary, prolonged exposure could lead to more serious and lasting health consequences.

enshrine the right to a clean, safe and healthy environment in their Constitutions, saying this could strengthen legal avenues to address environmental problems, such as transboundary haze. “Thirdly, these countries must start acting on increased climate mitigation to prevent the exacerbation of climate change. “This could include, for example, phasing out high-emitting activities, such as fossil fuels,” he noted. Adam emphasised that Asean should honour climate commitments, such as the 2030 Glasgow Declaration on Forests and Land Use, which aims to prevent and reverse forest degradation. He said protecting forests and recognising Indigenous land rights should go hand in hand, pointing to evidence that Indigenous communities are often better stewards of biodiversity than existing administrations. “The current haze should serve as a warning for governments to strengthen preventive measures rather than relying on emergency responses whenever air quality deteriorates,” he said. Meanwhile, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia public health specialist Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh said the public should take air pollution seriously once the Air Pollutant Index exceeds 100, with readings of 101–150 considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151–200 unhealthy for everyone,

No change in air quality expected over next few days KUALA LUMPUR: The haze situation affecting the country is not expected to show any significant changes for the next three to five days, according to the Meteorological Department. Its National Weather and Earthquake Operations Centre senior director Maqrun Fadzli Mohd Fahmi said although rain is forecast to occur in several places, it is not yet able to restore air quality on a large scale. will be a little rain compared to the current dry conditions. “We hope the rain would help but if the air is very hazy, a little rain may not be able to remove the effects of the haze.” He said the haze situation is worse in the west and south of Sarawak, resulting in the closure of more than 100 schools in Serian on Wednesday, as well as affecting areas in the peninsula, including the Klang Valley. September, which causes drier conditions and less rain. “When we do not get much rain, the weather will be hotter and this hot weather contributes to the risk of burning. From the burning, smoke and what we call haze are produced.” According to him, the department constantly monitors hotspots using satellite images to identify forest fire areas before combining wind direction data to project the movement of smoke and suspended particles.

“From the information we have so far, we have not seen a major change in the situation. We expect the situation to remain almost the same and in the next few days, there

Maqrun Fadzli said the main factor contributing to the situation is the southwest monsoon that usually occurs from May to

He said the information is used to identify areas with the potential to experience