‘We cannot sit back’: Malaysia offers aircraft to fight Indonesia forest fires despite dangerously poor visibility

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 - Malaysia has stepped forward to aid Indonesia in battling devastating forest fires that have triggered a thick haze across the region, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan declared. However, the minister cautioned that dangerously poor visibility, possibly below 50 meters in affected areas, could impede aerial firefighting efforts and endanger pilots.

"It is indeed challenging. Even the Japanese team previously attempted but was unable to act and has since returned to their country," Mohamad conveyed, according to Sinar Harian. Addressing reporters at the 10th National General Assembly of the National Solidarity Association (PerSoNa) in Melaka, the minister explained that the fires were raging deep in remote inland regions, making them challenging to reach via land.

Thick smoke was also preventing aircraft from functioning safely. "Aircraft cannot fly because the haze is exceedingly thick, with visibility less than 50 meters. The Air Pollutant Index (API) in Kalimantan has also reached 1,000, indicating an extremely severe situation," he explained. Mohamad stressed that the safety of pilots and other personnel must be paramount in any proposed operation.

"We have to be cautious. We cannot force pilots to fly in dangerous conditions. We will not do that," he emphasized. Talks are underway between agencies from both nations to ascertain the type of assistance that can be rendered, considering the remote locations of the fires and the gravity of the haze. Officials from Malaysia's Foreign Ministry, National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), and National Security Council (MKN) are engaging with their Indonesian counterparts to finalize the specifics of a potential deployment.

"Besides offering helicopters and water-bombing aircraft capable of carrying water, they are exploring ways Malaysia can assist Indonesia in extinguishing the currently uncontrollable forest fires," Mohamad stated. The outcome of these discussions will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval before the aid can be extended to the Indonesian government.

The proposed assistance arrives as Indonesia grapples with extensive forest and peatland fires that have dispersed thick smoke over parts of Southeast Asia. Indonesia has agreed to accept international aid to combat the fires, with authorities scrutinizing offers from neighboring countries. The transboundary haze has also disrupted daily life in Malaysia, raising health concerns and prompting school closures due to deteriorating air quality.

In Johor, schools and educational institutions have been mandated to remain shut until October 23 as the state continues to endure unhealthy air quality. The ongoing crisis has reignited discussions over the persistent impact of forest and peatland fires in Indonesia, which have repeatedly precipitated severe haze across the region.