Malaysia to seek preventive measures, diplomatic cooperation over transboundary haze, says Zahid

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi emphasized Malaysia's commitment to diplomatic cooperation and early preventive measures in addressing transboundary haze issues. He stressed that seeking compensation is not the primary focus, as it may not imply definitive liability for any specific country. Instead, proactive measures aim to prevent sensitive inter-state disputes from arising.

During a press conference following a high-level meeting, Zahid stated that Malaysia would discuss the haze problem with Indonesian officials during his visit to Jakarta, set to take place from September 17 to 20 in conjunction with the Halal-20 Conference. He indicated that the issue would be one of several topics discussed with the Indonesian Minister of Environment or Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability.

Furthermore, the National Disaster Management Agency has been directed to stand ready to assist Indonesia in tackling forest and peatland fires in Kalimantan through cloud seeding operations and logistical support. In response to a question about seeking compensation from Indonesia, Zahid affirmed that the government is adopting an "anticipatory action" approach to tackle the threat of extreme hot and dry weather due to Super El Niño.

This approach involves hotspot monitoring, readiness of firefighting assets, peatland management, enforcing regulations against open burning, and disseminating health information to the public. The government has also allocated RM5 million for operational preparedness and management, with RM2 million approved in June and RM3 million in September.