i Capital will pause its publication for one issue in the week starting 31 Aug. However, www.icapital.biz will be updated as usual and the operating hours of our Kuala Lumpur office will remain unchanged. The next issue, Volume 38, number 8 of i Capital, will be dated 10 Sep - 16 Sep 2026.

The haze is back. More and more areas throughout the country have fallen into the “unhealthy” tier, according to the Department of Environment's MyEQMS portal. Although the persistent smog is mainly due to the prolonged dry spells linked to the El Niño phenomenon and wildfires in Sumatra, domestic open burning is also a significant contributor. 

Although open burning is prohibited in Malaysia under Section 29A of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, it remains a significant contributor to the country's air pollution. Lax enforcement, coupled with a lack of civic-mindedness, has allowed open burning to persist, with some Malaysians continuing to burn rubbish and other waste with little regard for its impact on public health and the environment. Stronger enforcement, greater public awareness and a stronger sense of civic responsibility are urgently needed to curb this harmful practice.