Jerebu: Kerjasama Indonesia-Malaysia tumpu operasi benih awan

On August 24, Malaysia and Indonesia agreed to take further steps to prevent and extinguish forest and land fires that create harmful haze in Borneo. The coordination and joint efforts are now focused on cross-border smoke operations along the border region. The head of National Disaster, Information and Communication Center's Emergency Management Team, Berton Panjaitan, said ongoing discussions are part of a broader effort to tackle the haze situation.

He added that communication with the neighboring country continues, and both countries have agreed to strengthen cooperation, including prevention, monitoring, and support for smoke operations. Malaysia has offered assistance in fire suppression and has expressed readiness to help, but Jakarta has not made a formal request for direct assistance such as water-bombing support.

Despite the haze affecting parts of Malaysia, including Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, Kedah, and Perak, recording unhealthy air quality, Indonesia remains open to working together if needed, following existing mechanisms. Malaysia's Consulate in Pontianak informed that the haze situation in Kalimantan has worsened this year, as there were no severe haze reports in 2024 and 2025.

As of now, 577 Malaysian citizens are registered in Kalimantan Barat, with most expatriate Malaysians residing throughout Kalimantan. The consulate urges Malaysians to follow all local authority instructions, including wearing masks, switching to online schooling, reducing outdoor activities, and focusing on maintaining overall health.