Expected Wind Pattern Shift To Relief Transboundary Haze Impact, Says Ahmad Zahid

BEIJING, Oct 13 – A predicted shift in regional wind patterns towards the Indian Ocean within the next two weeks is expected to alleviate transboundary haze conditions affecting Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stated that the meteorological forecast was provided directly by the Director-General of the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, Ahmad Zahid noted that the change in wind direction would help reduce air pollution levels and spare Malaysians from prolonged haze exposure.

Ahmad Zahid, who also serves as the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, is currently undertaking a five-day official working visit to Beijing and Tianjin, China, which commenced on Monday.

Firefighting Support Offer, Indonesian Operations, and Hotspot Situation

The Deputy Prime Minister provided updates regarding bilateral communications and firefighting efforts in neighboring Indonesia:

• Indonesian Personnel Deployment: Ahmad Zahid noted that Indonesia is unlikely to require external firefighting assistance, as Jakarta has already mobilized over 19,000 personnel and specialized assets to suppress forest and land fires.
• Fire Containment Challenges: While recognizing Indonesia’s extensive local manpower and equipment deployment, Ahmad Zahid acknowledged that extinguishing active hotspots across Kalimantan and Sumatra requires time.
• Prime Minister’s Bilateral Reachout: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim previously contacted Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to convey Malaysia’s official readiness to support fire suppression efforts.
• Malaysian Support Package: Malaysia’s proposed assistance package to Indonesia includes one specialized firefighting aircraft, three helicopters, and 52 trained disaster management officers and personnel.

Malaysian authorities continue to monitor Air Pollutant Index (API) readings across affected states while tracking regional weather developments.

–NMT