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

 

KUCHING, Sept 16 — Malaysia prioritises long-term diplomatic cooperation and early preventive measures over seeking compensation from neighbouring countries in addressing the issue of transboundary haze, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also National Disaster Management Committee Chairman, said a prudent and structured diplomatic approach is the most effective way to address sensitive issues among Asean member states while ensuring optimal technical coordination.

“While seeking compensation does not necessarily imply definitive liability that must be borne by any specific country, taking preventive measures early would avoid the need to address such sensitive inter-state issues.

“Diplomatic measures must be pursued alongside technical efforts involving officials from neighbouring countries and Malaysian states,” he told a press conference after chairing the First National Disaster Management High-Level Committee (HLC) Meeting of 2026 at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today.

He was responding to a question on whether Malaysia intended to raise the issue of losses suffered by the country, particularly in terms of the economy, health and tourism, as a result of transboundary haze with the Indonesian government.

Also present were Sarawak Deputy Premier and Chairman of the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN), Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, and Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development, Datuk Rubiah Wang.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid, who is also Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said the transboundary haze issue would be officially raised during his working visit to Jakarta from tomorrow until Sept 20 in conjunction with the Halal-20 Conference: 5th World Halal Summit 2026 (H20 Summit).

“That (the transboundary haze issue) is among the topics to be discussed with the Minister of Environment or the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (in the Malaysian context).

“There are seven ministers who will be holding discussions with me, covering other areas such as the halal sector and so forth.

“A key topic I will discuss and coordinate with Bapak Gibran (Indonesian Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka) is the haze problem,” he said.

Regarding assistance to neighbouring countries, Ahmad Zahid said the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) had been directed to stand ready to coordinate cloud seeding operations (OPA) and logistical support to help tackle forest and peatland fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, should an official request be received from the relevant authorities there.

Meanwhile, in a media statement issued following the meeting, Ahmad Zahid said the government is shifting towards an “anticipatory action” approach to address the threat of extreme hot and dry weather caused by Super El Niño.

The measures include hotspot monitoring, ensuring the readiness of firefighting assets, peatland management, enforcement against open burning and disseminating health information to the public.

“The Department of Minerals and Geoscience Malaysia (JMG) and the Department of Environment (DOE) have been asked to evaluate the use of tube wells as an alternative water source, including refurbishing existing infrastructure in high-risk areas,” he said.

According to the statement, the National Disaster Management Council (MPBN) had also approved a total allocation of RM5 million this year for OPA and related management, comprising RM2 million for Phase One, approved on June 2, and RM3 million for Phase Two, approved on Sept 2. — Bernama