Malaysia remains ready to assist Indonesia in tackling forest and land fires that have caused transboundary haze, while proposing an ASEAN-level cooperation mechanism to strengthen joint efforts against the problem.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he was closely monitoring developments, noting that the haze had affected the health and daily lives of Malaysians, including forcing schools to close in several states and areas.
“Malaysia remains ready to provide assistance, as offered previously,” he said in a Facebook post today.
Anwar also acknowledged the Indonesian government’s efforts to deploy tens of thousands of personnel and various aerial assets to contain the fires.
However, he recognised that controlling the disaster was challenging because of the vast areas affected and unpredictable weather conditions.
He stressed that the cross-border problem required shared commitment and responsibility, in line with the close relationship between Malaysia and Indonesia and the spirit of regional cooperation.
“We have proposed a cooperation mechanism at the ASEAN level to strengthen coordination, preparedness and collective action in addressing transboundary haze,” he said.
