Haze: Indonesia says coordinating with Malaysia on weather modification

Jakarta, August 28, 2026 - The Indonesian government has announced it is working together with Malaysia to address the transboundary haze problem. The primary focus of this collaboration is to implement weather modification techniques along the border areas, according to Berton Panjaitan, the Acting Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) and Information, Data, and Disaster Communication Centre.

The issue is particularly urgent as smoke from forest and land fires has severely impacted air quality in Malaysia's Sarawak region, with Air Pollutant Index (API) readings reaching 195, which is considered very unhealthy. The government of Indonesia is currently discussing broader efforts with Malaysia to tackle the haze situation.

Berton revealed that Malaysia has expressed willingness to assist in firefighting operations. While Jakarta has not officially requested direct firefighting support, such as water-bombing assets, they remain open to any necessary cooperation.

This comes after Indonesia and Malaysia agreed on August 24 to strengthen prevention and firefighting measures to combat the transboundary haze. As part of this agreement, Indonesia granted permission for Malaysia to conduct cloud-seeding operations within its airspace. The haze is affecting major cities in both countries, including Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, Kedah, and Perak, which have reported unhealthy air quality readings.

Malaysia's Consulate in Pontianak has noted that the haze situation in Kalimantan has worsened this year, with no severe haze reported in 2024 and 2025. The consulate is advising the public to adhere to all directives, such as wearing masks, shifting to online school lessons, and minimizing outdoor activities. The consulate is focused on supporting the health of the 577 Malaysians living in West Kalimantan, most of whom are expatriates.

Malaysia has previously provided support for local firefighting efforts. In 2023, the Malaysian Consulate contributed six water pumps to the Governor's Office in West Kalimantan.