Haze caused by forest and ground fires from Indonesia's Borneo island has hit Sarawak, officials said today.

They classified the situation as serious amid fears the 1997 smog crisis that enveloped parts of Southeast Asia could be repeated.

Zainal Dahalan, deputy science, technology and environment minister attributed the haze in Sarawak to the cutting of trees and forest clearing by Indonesian farmers and estate owners ahead of the new planting season.

"The haze level in Sarawak is quite serious. The pollution index in the state has exceeded 170 (unhealthy)," he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.