Malaysia, Indonesia to ramp up anti-haze measures ahead of National Day

Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to boost anti-haze measures ahead of their respective national day celebrations, according to a recent phone call between their respective environment ministers. The 69th National Day festivities are scheduled for August 31 in Putrajaya, Malaysia, while Malaysia Day will be observed in Kuching, Sarawak, on September 16.

Minister Arthur Joseph Kurup of Malaysia's natural resources and environmental sustainability sector said the nations are determined to implement prevention and early intervention strategies, especially as the El Nino phenomenon is anticipated to heighten by October, coinciding with the southwest monsoon season. Kurup expressed gratitude to Indonesia for providing official permission for Malaysian cloud-seeding aircraft to access its airspace and target border regions.

Both nations' National Disaster Management Agency and meteorological institutions are working on coordinating their operations with the Indonesian armed forces. Despite currently 10 areas in four Malaysian states experiencing unhealthy air pollutant index levels, Malaysia is still prepared to provide firefighting assistance to Indonesia if necessary, under Cabinet endorsement.