Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said his country remains ready to help Indonesia combat widespread forest and land fires that have sent haze across national borders, disrupting daily life and forcing school closures in parts of Malaysia.

Anwar also called for stronger regional cooperation through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), proposing a mechanism to improve coordination and collective responses to transboundary haze.

“Malaysia remains ready to provide assistance, just as we have offered previously,” Anwar said, according to Malaysian national news agency Bernama.

The prime minister said he was closely monitoring the wildfire situation, which has affected public health and daily activities in Malaysia, including prompting authorities to close schools in several states and districts.

Anwar acknowledged Indonesia's efforts to contain the fires, including the deployment of tens of thousands of personnel and aircraft to affected areas.

He also recognized the difficulties facing Indonesian authorities, citing the vast areas affected by the fires and unpredictable weather conditions that have complicated firefighting operations.

Anwar stressed that cross-border haze required shared responsibility and a coordinated response, reflecting the close relationship between Malaysia and Indonesia.

“We have proposed a cooperation mechanism at the ASEAN level to strengthen coordination, preparedness, and collective action in dealing with transboundary haze,” he also said.

Indonesia Deploys More Than 60,000 Personnel
Indonesia has mobilized more than 60,000 personnel and 48 helicopters and aircraft to battle forest and land fires across Sumatra and Kalimantan, Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir said last week.

The large-scale operation includes aerial water bombing and weather modification efforts as authorities seek to contain the blazes and prevent further deterioration in regional air quality.

Arrmanatha said he had spoken with Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan to explain the measures Indonesia was taking.

"I have spoken with the Malaysian foreign minister and explained the measures Indonesia has taken, including deploying more than 60,000 personnel and 48 helicopters and aircraft for water bombing and weather modification," Arrmanatha told reporters at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta.

The diplomatic exchanges followed a telephone conversation between Anwar and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto earlier in the week about the worsening haze, which has affected air quality in Malaysia and Singapore.

Arrmanatha acknowledged that the fires remained a significant challenge, particularly as dry weather continued to hamper efforts to extinguish them.

Malaysia's latest offer underscores the regional implications of Indonesia's wildfire crisis, with smoke from forest and land fires affecting communities beyond the areas where the blazes originated.

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