Mohamad Hasan says diplomacy first in haze crisis, warns enforcement risks severing Indonesia ties
SEREMBAN, Oct 16 — Malaysia will continue to use diplomatic channels and Asean mechanisms to address the transboun...
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has emphasized the importance of diplomacy and ASEAN mechanisms in addressing the transboundary haze issue with Indonesia. He stated that Malaysia will pursue a phased approach that prioritizes the well-being of the people and health, without risking bilateral relations. The Malaysian leader stressed that discussions between leaders and regional channels are preferred over enforcing legal measures or issuing diplomatic notes, as the latter would involve severing ties.
Speaking after presenting contributions to senior citizens and assistance for further studies in the Rembau parliamentary constituency, Mohamad reiterated that Malaysia is not doing nothing about the persistent haze, but rather working on a comprehensive solution. He instructed the Foreign Ministry's secretary-general to raise the issue at a coordination meeting to discuss how Malaysia can assist Indonesia in combating the fires.
The Japanese assistance team was forced to withdraw due to difficulties accessing fire sites, while Malaysian helicopters could not operate due to hazardous conditions caused by the thick haze, with visibility under 50 meters. Malaysia plans to submit a non-paper at the upcoming ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting and ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, aiming to strengthen regional mechanisms and discuss the haze issue within the natural disasters framework.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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