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.

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!