"We're Ready to Extend Assistance" - Anwar Says M'sia Is Ready to Help Indonesia Fight Forest Fires Amid Haze
Malaysia offered helicopters and water-bombing aircraft as officials warned visibility below 50 meters could endanger aerial firefighting efforts.
- On Sunday, October 18, 2026, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan announced Malaysia's offer to deploy helicopters and water-bombing aircraft to assist Indonesia in extinguishing raging forest fires sending severe haze across Southeast Asia.
- Fires burning deep in remote inland areas remain difficult to reach by land, while extreme haze with visibility of less than 50m hampers aerial firefighting operations significantly.
- Schools in Johor remain closed until October 23 due to worsening air quality, while Mohamad stressed pilot safety is paramount, noting previous international teams including Japanese efforts have failed.
- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed Malaysia's readiness to assist, commending Indonesia's deployed personnel and aerial assets while advocating for stronger ASEAN-level coordination to address the recurring transboundary challenge.
- Senior officials from the National Disaster Management Agency and the National Security Council are negotiating deployment details with Indonesian counterparts, with Cabinet approval expected soon.
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25 Articles
'We cannot sit back': Malaysia offers aircraft to fight Indonesia forest fires despite poor visibility
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia cannot afford to stand by as raging forest fires in Indonesia send thick haze across the region, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said today (Oct 18), as the country offered to deploy helicopters and water-bombing aircraft to help contain the blazes.But Mohamad warned that dangerously poor visibility, reportedly below 50m in affected areas, could hamper aerial firefighting operations and put pilots at risk."It is…
Anwar Ibrahim berkata cabaran rentas sempadan itu perlu ditangani menerusi komitmen dan tanggungjawab bersama.
‘We cannot sit back’: Malaysia offers aircraft to fight Indonesia forest fires despite dangerously poor visibility
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 — Malaysia cannot afford to stand by as raging forest fires in Indonesia send thick haze across the region, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said...
The Indonesian National Police are focusing on speeding up the extinguishing of forest fires.
The Indonesian National Police deployed Mobile Brigade Corps personnel from a number of regions to assist in handling forest and land fires.
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