The Malaysian Guide

FCDO Updates Sabah Warning and Haze Season Begins Across Malaysia

· 2 min read Travel News
View over Malaysian island coastline with haze on the horizon

Contents

  1. FCDO Sabah Eastern Coast Warning
  2. Haze Season

Two separate advisories are relevant to travellers planning trips to Malaysia this summer: a reconfirmed kidnapping risk warning for the eastern coast of Sabah, and the start of the annual haze season.

FCDO Sabah Eastern Coast Warning

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated its Malaysia travel advice on 12 July 2026, reconfirming its existing warning against all but essential travel to the eastern coastal areas of Sabah. This covers the stretch from Sandakan eastward through Semporna and the islands off the coast including Lankayan, Mabul, Kapalai, and Pom Pom - popular dive destinations.

The warning reflects an ongoing risk of kidnapping by armed groups from the southern Philippines, a risk that has persisted since a series of kidnappings from resorts in this area from 2013 onwards. The warning applies to the eastern coastal strip; Kota Kinabalu on the west coast and the interior of Sabah are not covered by the same restriction.

Practical implications for divers and island visitors: The island resorts in the Semporna archipelago - including the dive sites around Mabul and Kapalai - sit within the warned area. Travellers should check their government’s current advice before booking. Note that travel to these areas may affect travel insurance coverage: many policies exclude coverage for travel against official government advice.

Government advice pages to check:

  • UK: gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/malaysia
  • Australia: smartraveller.gov.au
  • Canada: travel.gc.ca
  • US: travel.state.gov

Haze Season

Malaysia’s haze season typically runs from July through October, driven by agricultural burning on Sumatra and Borneo. The South Sumatra and Kalimantan burning periods are weather-dependent - when fire hotspots are active and wind patterns carry smoke northeast, air quality in Malaysia’s west coast cities, including Kuala Lumpur and Penang, can deteriorate significantly.

At its worst, the haze raises the Air Pollutant Index (API) into ranges that are categorised as unhealthy or very unhealthy. Outdoor activities, including exercise, should be limited during peak haze days. Those with respiratory conditions, cardiovascular disease, or who are pregnant should take extra precautions.

The API for Malaysian cities is monitored in near real-time by the Department of Environment and published on their portal. Check it daily if you are spending time in affected regions. If haze is severe, N95 masks provide meaningful protection; surgical masks do not.

For a full overview of what to know before visiting, see our safety guide for Malaysia and is Malaysia safe pages.