In mid‑2026 Malaysia was covered by a thick haze that came from fires in neighbouring Indonesia. The report shows how this pollution directly affected people's health, school attendance and factory output, making the issue very personal for many Malaysians.

The study estimated roughly 1,700 premature deaths during the haze period, with about 1,600 of those linked directly to smoke from fires outside Malaysia. Researchers calculated that the health‑related economic burden of these deaths ranged from RM3 billion to RM15 billion.

School closures during the smog led to an estimated loss of 8.4 million to 13.4 million student‑days. The report notes that missing school not only interrupts learning but also reduces the future workforce, because students miss valuable classroom time.

A survey of 86 Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) member sites found that more than two‑thirds reported operational disruptions. Among the 59 sites that gave details, 81 % saw higher sick leave and 63 % struggled with staff availability because parents had to stay home with children. Of the disrupted sites, 37 % reported reduced output, 27 % temporarily suspended at least one operation, and 14 % experienced production delays.

These figures show that a single haze episode can quickly turn into a health emergency, a schooling crisis and a productivity hit for industry. Addressing trans‑boundary haze is therefore not just an environmental task but a necessary step to protect public health, education and the economy.