Kuala Lumpur tops global pollution ranking as Indonesian wildfire haze persists

Wildfire smoke from Borneo and Sumatra has shrouded Kuala Lumpur and Singapore for over a month, with IQAir ranking KL the world's most polluted major city (AQI 166) and Singapore third (155). The transboundary haze is an annual pattern, but the prolonged duration and severity mark a notable escalation. This underscores regional environmental stress and potential health and economic impacts across Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.