I was there in June/July, not on Sipadan of course because there is only
the Army allowed on there now (since Dec 04). But all appeared normal to
me.

Sipadan was disputed territory for more than 20 years until Christmas time
2003 when the united nations ruled that it was indeed Malaysian territory.
Malaysia had been in dispute with Indonesia over this tiny Island.

The kidnappings took place in 2001 (i think), but the guy who masterminded
the whole thing was caught during a gun fight in the Philippines around
Christmas 2003, i was in Manilla when it made the front pages of their
newspapers

What you mean by "haze" over Malaysia i have no idea ?

Your trip wont be to Sipadan, no guests are allowed on there so i guess
you will be either staying on Mabul,
http://www.morg.co.uk/malaysia/mabul0204/slides/mabul_1145.html
http://www.morg.co.uk/malaysia/seaventures/slides/mabul_local_housing0363.
html
Kapalai
http://www.morg.co.uk/malaysia/kapali0204/slides/kapali_11.html
or Seaventures
http://www.morg.co.uk/malaysia/seaventures/slides/the_rig_4.html
........those resorts are 15 minutes by boat from
Sipadan Island.
http://www.morg.co.uk/malaysia/sipadan0204/slides/sipadan_isaland15.html
The normal routine out there is for the boat to leave the resort around
08:00am - 09:00am for Sipadan, two dives there and back to resort for
lunch then local dive etc.
But it all depends on what you want to do, you dont have to dive on
Sipadan, my last two trips out there i did'nt dive Sipadan at all.
I hope this is of use and interest to you.

So........enjoy your trip.

Dave Morgan @ Work in the UK
Take out the "goes diving" bit....
Trip photos on line at www.morg.co.uk

I was there in July of this year and I had a great time! I've already
started a campaign convincing SWMBO that we should go back there ASAP...

The kidnappings you refer to were somewhere in 2000 and since then nothing
of the sort has happened again. The presence of the army/police on Sipadan
may reassure you.

So, just go. You certainly won't regret it. The viz is great and at a
certain moment you'll simply stop counting the turtles and the sharks...

Oh yeah, if you have the possibility go and eat at the small open air fish
restaurant at the beginning of the pier in Semporna. The sea food is
delicious and the prices are ridiculous (and do try their fruit juices).

With regard to the haze over Malaysia, you'll be diving off of Borneo.  As
far as I know, that area is not affected and here's a news article from
yesterday to support that.  I've highlighted (with ##) the portion that
should interest you most.

Malaysia haze triggers emergency

Kuala Lumpur's landmarks have disappeared
Malaysia has announced a state of emergency in two towns after air pollution
reached dangerous levels.
The pollution is blamed on fires lit to clear land in neighbouring
Indonesia, seriously affecting air quality and visibility across the Malacca
Strait.

Air quality readings taken in the two towns showed pollution markers to be
above the emergency level of 500.

The haze has prompted hundreds of schools to shut, as well as disrupting
airports and busy shipping lanes.

Malaysian and Indonesian officials met to discuss the fires, which are an
annual problem as poor farmers on Sumatra use fire to clear land for
planting.

This year's haze is the worst since 1998, when Malaysia was affected for
weeks, causing severe economic losses.

The readings over 500 were detected in the western towns of Port Klang and
Kuala Selangor.

MALAYSIA AIR QUALITY
0-50: good
51-100: moderate
101-200: unhealthy
201-300: very unhealthy
301-500: hazardous

Under the state of emergency, all workplaces must shut except for those
providing essential services, and selling food.

Air quality levels throughout the Klang Valley have reached levels
considered hazardous to health. Emergency measures could yet be introduced
in the region's major cities, including the capital Kuala Lumpur, Petaling
Jaya, Putrajaya and Shah Alam.

Schools in Kuala Lumpur and surrounding districts have been ordered to
close, and people have been advised to stay indoors and wear masks if they
venture out.

The BBC's Malaysia correspondent, Jonathan Kent, says the acrid smog that
has enveloped Kuala Lumpur is like sandpaper on the back of one's throat.

Some bars and restaurants have even offered special haze discounts on drinks
to tempt customers in.

##However, the country's tourist destinations including Penang, Langkawi,
the East Coast and Malaysian Borneo are almost entirely unaffected.##

Nevertheless there will be concern that pictures of the haze from the Kuala
Lumpur area will scare away visitors.

'900 fires burning'

With stock markets falling and hospitals inundated with people complaining
of eye, throat and chest problems, Malaysia is offering Indonesia help to
put out the fires that are causing the problem.

The two countries' leaders spoke on Wednesday, and on Thursday, Indonesian
Forestry Minister Malam Sambat Kaban met Malaysian Environment Minister
Adenan Satem in Sumatra, where more than 900 fires are reported to be
burning.

Malaysian officials would say only that there is a definite willingness to
co-operate.

Schools in Kuala Lumpur and parts of the state of Selangor will be closed
until Monday.

Students in schools that remain open are being told to stay in their
classrooms, drink warm water and wear masks if they have to venture
outdoors.

Our correspondent says there is no silver lining to this smog for those
students who have been told to stay at home.

They will have to make up for missed lessons on Saturdays once the pollution
has eased.