KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 – Malaysia has offered specialized aerial assets, equipment, and frontline personnel to assist Indonesia in extinguishing rampant forest and peatland fires, with active deployment awaiting official clearance from Jakarta.
Speaking at a press conference following the opening of the Road Safety Congress (RSC) 2026 in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, October 19, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had personally reached out to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto regarding the relief offer.
Ahmad Zahid noted that while the assistance package is modest relative to Indonesia’s regional resources, it underscores Malaysia’s diplomatic solidarity in addressing cross-border haze affecting Malaysia, Singapore, Timor-Leste, and Indonesia.
“However small our assistance may be, it is a good gesture to help our closest neighbour,” Ahmad Zahid remarked, adding that assets stand ready for immediate deployment through the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) and partner security forces.
Firefighting Mobilization Package and Northeast Monsoon Preparedness
The government outlined its dual focus on mitigating transboundary haze and preparing national disaster machinery for seasonal flooding:
- Deployed Aerial & Human Assets: Malaysia’s relief offer includes a specialized Bombardier CL-415MP amphibious water-bombing aircraft, three multipurpose helicopters, and 50 trained firefighting personnel.
- Indonesian Coordination: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has signaled approval for international aid offers to suppress land blazes.
- Northeast Monsoon (MTL) Transition: Ahmad Zahid emphasized that national disaster agencies will shift full focus to Northeast Monsoon preparedness once the immediate haze situation subsides.
- Early Warning Systems: The government aims to optimize real-time early warning mechanisms to ensure timely evacuations for residents in flood-prone zones.
- Multi-Agency & NGO Synergy: Flood preparedness initiatives involve close coordination between government departments, security forces, and non-governmental organizations following the successful launch of National Preparedness Month (BKN) in Ipoh.
NADMA and regional partners remain on high alert as environmental conditions evolve across the region.
–NMT
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