Kuala lumpur: Malaysia has officially extended its support to Indonesia in combating forest fires, offering a Bombardier CL-415MP aircraft along with additional resources to aid in the firefighting efforts. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi conveyed this offer to Indonesian Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka during a meeting held as part of his four-day working visit to Indonesia.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the offered assistance also includes three helicopters and 52 officers and personnel from the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), and Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). Ahmad Zahid, who also chairs the National Disaster Management Committee, stated that the proposal would be forwarded to President Prabowo Subianto for the Indonesian government's approval.
The visit coincides with the invitation from Indonesia's Halal Product Assurance Organising Agency (BPJPH) for the 5th Halal 20 (H20) Summit. During the visit, which concludes on September 20, Ahmad Zahid is scheduled to attend the summit's opening ceremony and participate in a session focused on regional halal cooperation.
The MMEA's Bombardier CL-415MP, renowned for its aerial firefighting capabilities, was previously deployed in South Sumatra in 2015, successfully delivering 546,000 litres of water over a five-day mission. The aircraft collects water from bodies of water such as lakes and seas to douse fire-affected areas, while the helicopters will serve similar functions.
Ahmad Zahid emphasized Malaysia's commitment to addressing the recurrent forest fire issue, which often leads to haze affecting Malaysia due to fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra. He clarified that the assistance aims not to interfere in Indonesia's affairs but to collaboratively address the transboundary haze issue impacting neighboring regions.
He highlighted the importance of establishing a mitigation plan to prevent annual occurrences, which serves the interests of both Malaysia and Indonesia. Furthermore, Ahmad Zahid noted the ongoing close cooperation between Malaysia and Indonesia in disaster management, which includes meetings and joint exercises at the ASEAN level.