Malaysia maintains offer to help Indonesia tackle transboundary haze

BAGAN DATUK: Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, affirmed that Malaysia remains committed to providing assistance to Indonesia in combating the transboundary haze affecting the country. This commitment was highlighted during a cabinet meeting last Friday, where appropriate measures were discussed for coordination between both nations.

The Indonesian government has deployed over 16,000 personnel along with various aircraft and firefighting helicopters, despite challenges faced due to poor visibility and a lack of suitable cloud formations for cloud-seeding operations. Zahid expressed sympathy for Indonesia's situation, emphasizing that the haze is causing adverse health effects on Malaysians, particularly those with allergies.

He expressed hope for a resolution, stating that bilateral communication has been initiated with Indonesian leaders to discuss the current situation. The Bagan Datuk 2026 Sultan Nazrin Shah Bridge Run, which Zahid launched, attracted 1,700 local and international participants, including runners from Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, France, India, Nepal, and Thailand.

Organized better this year, the event features three categories, with the 5km run having the highest participation at 759 runners, followed by the 21km category with 575 participants, and the 10km category with 366 participants.