Johor opposition leader Andrew Chen is asking Indonesian authorities to name companies, including Malaysian-linked ones, behind the transboundary haze that has hurt air quality in southern Malaysia. The haze comes from slash-and-burn clearing of forests and carbon-rich peatlands for palm oil and pulp. Chen says the smoke is a public health issue, with residents reporting breathing problems, and that Malaysian firms should not be shielded just because the fires are across the border. Chen also wants Malaysia to pass a Transboundary Haze Act so federal and state governments have legal tools to hold companies accountable when their activities contribute to cross-border pollution. The call follows a letter from Johor's chief minister to Indonesia's consulate about unhealthy Air Pollutant Index readings. The issue sits at the intersection of land use, emissions, and regional climate policy, since clearing peatlands releases large amounts of carbon dioxide, not just smoke.
