Mohamad Hasan says diplomacy first in haze crisis, warns enforcement risks severing Indonesia ties

Malaysia will continue to employ diplomatic channels and Asean mechanisms to tackle the transboundary haze issue with Indonesia, according to Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. The minister emphasized that the priority is to address the people's interests and health, without endangering bilateral relations. Discussions between leaders and regional channels are preferred over legal enforcement measures or the issuance of diplomatic notes, as the latter would entail severing ties.

Mohamad stressed that Malaysia is not doing nothing about the persistent haze but is pursuing a comprehensive approach to find a joint regional solution while remaining prepared to assist Indonesia in combating the fires responsible for the haze. He informed that a coordination meeting will be held to explore how Malaysia can aid Indonesia in tackling the fires, despite difficulties in accessing the fire sites, including thick haze and reduced visibility, which have forced the Japanese assistance team to withdraw from the region.

In response to the haze problem, Malaysia plans to submit a non-paper at the upcoming Asean Senior Officials' Meeting and Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting, aiming to strengthen regional mechanisms to address transboundary haze and discuss the issue within the natural disasters framework.