EnvironmentSwiss monitors ranked Kuala Lumpur the world's second-most polluted major city on WednesdayParticipants at a protest in Jakarta highlighting the impact of forest and land fires in Indonesia on Aug. 14. The number of fires has soared this month, causing pollution in Malaysia and Singapore. © Getty ImagesNORMAN GOH, REZHA HADYAN, NATSUMI KAWASAKI and KENTARO TAKEDAAugust 26, 2026 20:33 JSTKUALA LUMPUR/JAKARTA/SINGAPORE -- Malaysia may scale back or postpone National Day celebrations if pollution spreading from forest fires in Indonesia persists, the government said on Wednesday, as worsening haze disrupted daily life and pushed Southeast Asian governments toward a more coordinated response.