Smoke from Kalimantan fires and local incidents pushes pollution higher across eastern Malaysia.
Malaysia’s haze crisis is spreading further across Borneo. Sabah, which had largely escaped the worst conditions affecting neighboring Sarawak, is now seeing deteriorating air quality in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau, with authorities pointing to transboundary haze, dry weather and local fires as contributing factors.
Tawau and Kota Kinabalu Turn Unhealthy
As of 11 a.m. on August 31, Tawau recorded an Air Pollutant Index, or API, reading of 153, while Kota Kinabalu stood at 122, placing both locations in the unhealthy category. Other Sabah areas, including Sandakan and Keningau, remained at moderate levels at the time. Malaysia classifies API readings from 101 to 200 as unhealthy, while readings above 300 are considered hazardous.
Kalimantan Fires Contribute to Haze
Sabah Environment Department representative Nor Rashidah Mohd Ghazali said the state was being affected by reported transboundary haze from forest and peatland fires in Kalimantan. Sabah had previously maintained relatively good air quality despite its proximity to northern Kalimantan, where more than 1,000 peat fires had been identified, but pollution readings began increasing over the previous 48 hours.
Local Fires Add to Pollution
Cross-border smoke is not the only factor behind Sabah’s deteriorating conditions. A major fire involving 202 stilt houses in Kampung Numbak, Kota Kinabalu, on August 30 also contributed to poorer local air quality. Meanwhile, bush fires detected in Tuaran and Kota Belud on August 29 through satellite imagery from the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre were subsequently extinguished, with no additional hotspots detected there.
Authorities Intensify Open Burning Patrols
With hot and dry weather increasing fire risks, Sabah’s Environment Department has intensified enforcement and daily monitoring in areas vulnerable to open burning. Authorities had conducted 474 patrols under the Open Burning Prevention Operation and urged residents to avoid burning activities, extinguish manageable fires when safe, and immediately report incidents to emergency or environmental authorities.
Sabah Joins Wider Malaysian Haze Crisis
Sabah’s deterioration comes as neighboring Sarawak faces substantially worse conditions. On August 31, several Sarawak monitoring stations recorded hazardous API readings above 300, while other parts of Malaysia were also experiencing unhealthy air. The expanding pollution highlights the regional nature of the crisis, particularly as fires in Indonesia’s Kalimantan can affect communities across Borneo depending on wind and weather conditions.
Sabah’s haze alert adds another dimension to a worsening regional air pollution crisis already affecting Malaysia and Indonesia. For Indonesians, controlling forest and peatland fires in Kalimantan remains critical for protecting communities and preventing cross-border pollution. For Malaysians and Singaporeans, the deteriorating conditions reinforce the need for coordinated ASEAN monitoring, fire prevention, enforcement, and rapid response as dry weather continues.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , The Star (2026)
Keywords: Sabah Haze, Kota Kinabalu Air Quality, Tawau Haze, Malaysia Air Pollution, Kalimantan Fires, Transboundary Haze
