Malaysia, Indonesia pledge closer cooperation to tackle haze

Malaysia and Indonesia are strengthening cooperation to combat transboundary haze, the natural resources and environmental sustainability minister of Malaysia, Arthur Joseph Kurup, announced. Haze, a persistent regional problem, remains a significant issue in the area, according to Kurup. At an Asean meeting, Kurup met with his Indonesian counterpart and agreed to enhance collaboration in monitoring hotspots, enforcing stricter regulations against open burning, and potentially conducting cross-border cloud seeding operations.

Kurup highlighted the importance of regional cooperation, especially as Malaysia is entering a period of "super El Nino," which is expected to bring drier conditions and increased fire risk. He stressed that regional cooperation is crucial in addressing haze, as problems in neighboring countries can also impact Malaysia. The minister affirmed that Malaysia will continue to advocate for improved regional coordination at the Asean level to tackle this shared challenge.