Malaysia, Indonesia begin talks on joint action against forest fires causing haze, says Tok Mat

Malaysia and Indonesia have started discussions to collaborate on addressing forest fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra, which have led to transboundary haze.

Relevant agencies from both nations, including the National Disaster Management Agency and the Foreign Ministry, are involved in the talks.

The haze has persisted for almost two months, affecting Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, and Malaysia plans to address the issue at an upcoming Asean Foreign Ministers' meeting.

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 14 — Malaysia and Indonesia have begun discussions to explore ways of working together to tackle forest fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra that have caused transboundary haze.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the discussions involved relevant agencies and ministries from both countries, including the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), the Foreign Ministry and the National Security Council (MKN).

“Our secretary-general (Tan Sri Amran Mohamed Zin) has held discussions with MKN, Nadma and the Indonesian side on how we can jointly address these fires. This is the latest development.

“The form of cooperation will depend on the outcome of the discussions, but the authorities of both countries have, for the first time, begun talks on how we can work together to tackle the haze, which appears to be getting worse,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after attending the handover ceremony for a solar photovoltaic (grid-connected PV) system installation project by the Works Ministry to the Foreign Ministry and three other government premises here today.

He said the discussions marked an initial step by both countries towards finding ways to cooperate in addressing forest fires and the haze, which had persisted for more than a month and was approaching two months.

Mohamad said the prolonged haze had affected not only Malaysia but also threatened the health of people in Indonesia and Singapore.

“Alhamdulillah, both countries, through their respective agencies and foreign ministries, will explore ways to cooperate and help address the forest fires together,” he said.

On Monday, Mohamad was reported as saying that Malaysia would raise the issue of transboundary haze at an Asean Foreign Ministers’ meeting ahead of the bloc’s 49th Summit in Manila next month, to discuss more effective regional mechanisms to tackle the problem. — Bernama

Air quality deteriorates in 28 areas; Klang Valley, Johor hotspots rise

Children without citizenship eligible for school if one parent is Malaysian, says Sarawak minister

King receives courtesy visit from Melaka governor ahead of Conference of Rulers meeting

马来西亚和印度尼西亚已开始讨论合作解决加里曼丹岛和苏门答腊岛的森林火灾问题，这些火灾导致了跨境烟霾。

两国相关机构，包括国家灾害管理机构和外交部，都参与了会谈。

雾霾已经持续了近两个月，影响了马来西亚、印度尼西亚和新加坡，马来西亚计划在即将举行的东盟外长会议上讨论这个问题。

布城，10 月 14 日讯——马来西亚和印度尼西亚已开始讨论如何合作应对加里曼丹和苏门答腊的森林火灾，这些火灾造成了跨境烟霾。

外交部长拿督斯里莫哈末哈山表示，讨论涉及两国相关机构和部门，包括国家灾害管理机构（Nadma）、外交部和国家安全理事会（MKN）。

“我们的秘书长（丹斯里阿姆兰·穆罕默德·津）已与国家安全理事会（MKN）、国家灾害与海洋管理局（Nadma）以及印尼方面就如何共同应对这些火灾进行了磋商。这是最新进展。”

他说：“合作形式将取决于讨论的结果，但两国当局首次开始就如何共同应对雾霾问题展开对话，而雾霾问题似乎正在恶化。”

今天，他出席了工程部向外交部和其他三个政府机构移交太阳能光伏（并网光伏）系统安装项目的仪式后，对记者发表了讲话。

他表示，此次讨论标志着两国在寻求合作应对森林火灾和烟霾方面迈出了第一步，这场烟霾已经持续了一个多月，即将持续两个月。

穆罕默德表示，持续的雾霾不仅影响了马来西亚，也威胁到印度尼西亚和新加坡人民的健康。

“感谢真主，两国将通过各自的机构和外交部，探讨合作方式，共同应对森林火灾，”他说。

据报道，穆罕默德周一表示，马来西亚将在下月于马尼拉举行的东盟第49届峰会前夕的东盟外长会议上提出跨境烟霾问题，以探讨更有效的区域机制来应对这一问题。——马新社

28个地区空气质量恶化；巴生谷和柔佛热点地区空气质量上升

砂拉越部长表示，如果父母一方是马来西亚公民，没有公民身份的儿童也有资格入学。

在统治者会议召开前夕，国王会见了马六甲州州长。