HAZE in Malaysia

As the haze gets worse, I find myself wondering if this is one of the worst ones we've had since the 2019 or even 2015 El Nino fires.

Excerpts from News Article from South China Post

Fire emissions from Indonesia from September 1 to September 7 reached 19.7 million metric tons.

Emissions were 273% higher than the seasonal average, though still lower than the 21.7 million tons emitted in the same week of 2015.

Today we are at API 170-180+ range, and the fires in Kalimantan don't seem to be stopping anytime soon.

While looking it up, it was interesting to read that -

1. While El Niño events explain most of the year-on-year variation in fire, the creation of new districts increases fire and exacerbates the El Niño impacts on fire.

2. There are two plausible and related explanations for this finding: (a) districts use fire to create economic opportunity and grow the local economy, and (b) economic growth increases residents’ and local firms capacity to move, acquire land, and burn further.

I also found this recent review paper that outlined Malaysia's current air quality monitoring system, and more. Though given that our haze crises mostly stem from Indonesian forest fires, improving our own laws and infrastructure seems to be a bit helpless in this case, with the AATHP acting 'non-existent' once again, becoming a never-ending problem.

Online scam operators use human trafficking victims?

I was reading up on human trafficking in the region, and I came across this UN report.

I had obviously known about scam operators (in Malaysia and the region), but didn't realise scammers used trafficked victims to run their operations.

Excerpts from the report are pretty horrifying:

... people are primarily recruited to these operations ... through what appear to be legitimate and even elaborate procedures

... On arrival [to the host country], migrants are ... watched over by security guards who are often heavily armed.

... individuals are subjected to the threat or use of force ... in some cases are unable even to move between different floors of the compound ... Reports have also been received of people being chained to their desk.

... Reports commonly describe people being subjected to ... beatings, humiliation, electrocution and solitary confinement, especially if they resist orders or disobey compound rules or if they do not meet expected scamming targets.

... Reports have also been received of sexual violence, including gang rape as well as trafficking into the sex sector, most usually as punishment, for example for failing to meet their targets.

... The traffickers hold an ever-increasing debt over the migrants – claimed to be for costs such as for travel, quarantine on arrival, training and living costs, and performance related fines ... This is a situation of debt-bondage.

... people have attempted escape, including by jumping off the compound buildings or swimming across rivers (for example, from Myanmar to Thailand or Cambodia to Viet Nam), however these attempts often end unsuccessfully, either with death or severe punishment upon recapture.

The report doesn't single out Malaysia specifically, and the above is a regional assessment.

But thought this is of interest, since Malaysia is known to be a "hub" of sorts for scamming operations (and victims).

Cigarettes getting cheaper in Malaysia?

A comparison of food prices vs cigarette prices in Malaysia, since 2015. By think tank SERI.

Adjusting for inflation, food prices have still gotten more expensive, while cigarettes have actually gotten cheaper.

A public health concern.

Link to the full policy brief: 88e7d5f7-2a68-480e-964e-1a708287b613.filesusr.com

Politics of transboundary haze in Southeast Asia

Seasonal haze has gone on for decades. I'm interested in digging into the politics of haze

Why has Indonesia not been able to stop illegal forest burning? Why has regional pressure not worked?

Here's one paper to start with, that found:

The study reveals a significant electoral cycle (a repeated pattern linked to elections) in forest fires. Both the number of ignitions and the area burned decline during election years. They then increase steeply in the year after elections. The authors argue that politicians may suppress forest burning when it could damage their electoral chances. After elections, those incentives weaken, allowing more burning for land conversion.

I find this somewhat encouraging -- as it suggests that forest burning can be reduced, when political incentives align.

The challenge is how to align incentives more permanently -- beyond the narrow pre-election period.

New research on teen lonelines in Malaysia

Interesting new study by Tan Heang-Lee and Farah Nabilah (ISIS Malaysia): Lonely by design.

It covers a unique angle, examining possible relationships between AI companions and loneliness:

This research note examines how social media and AI companions may deepen loneliness among Malaysian adolescents by replacing meaningful connection with performance, comparison, and low-risk artificial companionship. It highlights the links between loneliness, mental health, social development, and broader social cohesion, and calls for safer technology and stronger opportunities for in-person belonging.

(from the credo summary)

I've heard a lot about social media and mental health effects, but not about AI companion use.

We need to be getting ahead of this technology use and it's impact on children (and society generally), so good to see this research.

The study makes recommendations including:

enforcing provisions on manipulative design features, extending school recess and providing green spaces in neighbourhoods.

(from the report executive summary)

I believe the researchers are going to conduct follow up, primary research -- so watch their space!

Welcome to the Board / group

Hi everyone! Hope to build a space for anyone interested to discuss Malaysia research. Research about Malaysia, by Malaysians, made in Malaysia, or of interest to Malaysians. Everyone welcomed!