Smoke from this year’s Indonesian forest and peatland fires has inflicted an estimated 8 billion ringgit (US$1.97 billion) in welfare losses on Malaysia, contributing to an estimated 1,700 deaths and severely disrupting manufacturing, according to a report commissioned by the country’s leading industrial group.
The study, “The 2026 Fire Season and Transboundary Haze in Malaysia”, was conducted for the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), as reported by the Malay Mail. Drawing on satellite data, air-quality monitoring and atmospheric modelling, the assessment tracked the impact of prolonged haze from July 1 to October 22.
Short-term exposure to fine particles from the fires contributed to an estimated 1,700 premature deaths – with a 95 per cent uncertainty interval of 1,300 to 2,300 – the report found, noting the figures reflect statistical models rather than individually confirmed fatalities.