Malaysia has canceled the Kuching Marathon, originally set for September 27 in Sarawak, due to severe air pollution caused by haze. The Kuching Marathon Association made the decision after consulting with local authorities and medical experts, emphasizing the need to protect the health and safety of everyone involved, including runners, volunteers, and the public. Air quality in Kuching has been poor for the past week, with the pollution index reaching 158 on Thursday afternoon—well above the 100 threshold that is considered unhealthy. Registered marathon participants can still collect their finisher medals and T-shirts starting Friday at Plaza Merdeka, though a detailed schedule will be shared through social media. The haze affecting Malaysia, Singapore, and several other Southeast Asian countries, originates from forest and peatland fires in Indonesia's Kalimantan and Sumatra islands. These fires have led to widespread health issues, with Indonesia's health ministry reporting over 170,000 cases of respiratory illness since August. The haze has also reached the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. In response, Malaysia is exploring ways to create new legislation to address transboundary haze pollution, drawing inspiration from Singapore's existing laws. A special committee has been formed to improve regional cooperation, and Malaysia has proposed a "science diplomacy" initiative and a sustainable haze fund at a recent regional meeting in Bali. These ideas have received support from several countries and will be reviewed by the ASEAN Secretariat before being presented to a meeting of 11 Southeast Asian nations in Vietnam in December. Malaysia is also pushing for greater transparency and data sharing among regional countries to better monitor and combat haze. Rosli Zul, the enforcement director of Malaysia's Department of Environment, noted that the department operates 68 official air quality monitoring stations and encourages the public to rely on their readings, as other platforms may use different measurement methods. About 80% of annual complaints received by the department are related to open burning, a significant source of haze. Efforts to enforce stricter controls on such activities are ongoing. The arrival of the Northeast Monsoon, expected around mid-October, may help reduce the haze in Malaysia as wind patterns change, even though fires in Indonesia continue. To prevent domestic fires from contributing to the haze after the monsoon begins, Malaysia will enhance monitoring through weather forecasting collaboration and satellite imagery. These measures aim to ensure that local sources of pollution do not worsen the situation once the monsoon season starts.