Malaysia and Singapore have proposed to bring forward the regional meeting on haze pollution originally scheduled for August, Malaysian Natural Resource and Environment Minister G. Palanivel said Monday.

The two countries have proposed to hold the sub-regional ministerial steering committee meeting on trans-boundary haze pollution as early as next week, probably in Kuala Lumpur, Palanivel said in a statement.

"We are awaiting response from the other three member countries -- Indonesia, Brunei and Thailand," he said.

Palanivel is scheduled to meet with Indonesian officials on the haze issue later this week.

The city state of Singapore and part of Malaysia were shrouded by thick haze in recent weeks, as smog from forest fire in Indonesia's Sumatra Island was brought in by monsoon wind.

Malaysian government declared a state of emergency in two southern districts due to alarming air pollution level. The air quality in Singapore and South Malaysia improves on Monday as the smog slowly moves northwards.

However, the haze may thicken again as more hotspots were spotted in Sumatra during the weekend.

In Kuala Lumpur, air quality turned worse on Monday as many people on the streets wore masks. Schools were temporarily closed. Endi

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