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

Malaysia has offered to assist Indonesia in combating forest fires that are causing a thick haze across the region, impacting air quality and daily life.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan emphasized the challenges posed by poor visibility and remote fire locations, which complicate aerial firefighting efforts.

Discussions between agencies from both countries are ongoing to determine the feasible support Malaysia can provide, ensuring the safety of personnel remains a priority.

The outcome will be presented to the Malaysian Cabinet for approval as Indonesia accepts international assistance to manage the crisis.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 — Malaysia cannot afford to stand by as raging forest fires in Indonesia send thick haze across the region, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said today, as the country offered to deploy helicopters and water-bombing aircraft to help contain the blazes.

But Mohamad warned that dangerously poor visibility, reportedly below 50m in affected areas, could hamper aerial firefighting operations and put pilots at risk.

“It is indeed difficult. Even the Japanese team was previously unable to do anything and has since returned to their country. But as a country affected by the situation, we cannot simply sit back and do nothing,” he said, according to Sinar Harian .

Speaking to reporters at the 10th National General Assembly of the National Solidarity Association (PerSoNa) in Melaka, Mohamad said the fires were burning deep in remote inland areas, making them difficult to reach by land.

Thick smoke was also preventing aircraft from operating safely.

“Aircraft cannot fly because the haze is extremely thick, with visibility of less than 50m.

“The Air Pollutant Index (API) in Kalimantan has also reached 1,000, indicating an extremely severe situation,” he said.

Mohamad stressed that the safety of pilots and other personnel must remain a priority in any proposed operation.

“We have to be careful. We cannot force pilots to fly in dangerous conditions. We will not do that,” he said.

He said discussions were under way between agencies from both countries to determine what assistance could be provided, taking into account the remote locations of the fires and the severity of the haze.

Senior officials from the Foreign Ministry, the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and the National Security Council (MKN) were holding talks with their Indonesian counterparts to work out the details of a possible deployment.

“Apart from offering helicopters and water-bombing aircraft capable of carrying water, they are looking at ways Malaysia can help Indonesia extinguish the forest fires that are currently raging out of control,” he said.

Mohamad said the outcome of the discussions would be presented to the Cabinet soon for approval before assistance could be extended to the Indonesian government.

The proposed assistance comes as Indonesia struggles to contain widespread forest and peatland fires that have sent thick smoke across parts of Southeast Asia.

Indonesia has agreed to accept international assistance to tackle the fires, with authorities assessing offers from neighbouring countries.

The transboundary haze has also disrupted daily life in Malaysia, with worsening air quality prompting health concerns and school closures.

In Johor, schools and educational institutions have been ordered to remain closed until October 23 as the state continues to grapple with unhealthy air quality.

The latest crisis has renewed concerns over the recurring impact of forest and peatland fires in Indonesia, which have repeatedly caused severe haze across the region.

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马来西亚已表示愿意协助印度尼西亚应对森林火灾，这些火灾导致该地区烟雾弥漫，影响空气质量和日常生活。

外交部长拿督斯里莫哈末哈山强调了能见度低和火灾地点偏远带来的挑战，这些都使空中灭火工作变得更加复杂。

两国相关机构正在继续进行磋商，以确定马来西亚能够提供的切实可行的支持，同时确保人员安全仍然是首要任务。

该结果将提交马来西亚内阁批准，因为印尼正在接受国际援助以应对危机。

吉隆坡，10月18日——马来西亚外交部长拿督斯里莫哈末哈山今天表示，印尼肆虐的森林大火给该地区带来浓重的烟雾，马来西亚不能袖手旁观。马来西亚已提出部署直升机和洒水飞机帮助控制火势。

但穆罕默德警告说，受灾地区能见度极差（据报道低于 50 米），可能会阻碍空中灭火行动，并使飞行员面临危险。

“这确实很困难。就连日本队之前也束手无策，现在已经返回本国了。但作为一个受此局势影响的国家，我们不能袖手旁观，无所作为。”他告诉《阳光日报》。

穆罕默德在马六甲举行的全国团结协会（PerSoNa）第十届全国大会上对记者说，火灾发生在偏远的内陆地区深处，陆路难以到达。

浓烟也妨碍了飞机安全飞行。

“由于雾霾非常浓重，能见度不足 50 米，飞机无法飞行。”

他说：“加里曼丹的空气污染指数（API）也达到了1000，表明情况极其严重。”

穆罕默德强调，在任何拟议的行动中，飞行员和其他人员的安全都必须始终是首要考虑因素。

“我们必须谨慎行事。我们不能强迫飞行员在危险条件下飞行。我们绝不会这样做。”他说道。

他表示，两国相关机构正在商讨可以提供哪些援助，同时考虑到火灾地点偏远以及烟雾的严重程度。

外交部、国家灾害管理署（Nadma）和国家安全委员会（MKN）的高级官员正在与印尼同行举行会谈，商讨可能的部署细节。

他说：“除了提供直升机和能够携带水的洒水飞机外，他们还在研究马来西亚可以如何帮助印度尼西亚扑灭目前肆虐失控的森林大火。”

穆罕默德表示，讨论结果将很快提交内阁批准，之后才能向印尼政府提供援助。

印尼正努力控制蔓延的森林和泥炭地火灾，这些火灾已导致东南亚部分地区烟雾弥漫，此时印尼提出了援助提议。

印尼已同意接受国际援助以应对火灾，当局正在评估邻国的援助提议。

跨境雾霾也扰乱了马来西亚的日常生活，空气质量恶化引发了人们对健康的担忧，并导致学校停课。

由于柔佛州持续受到空气质量不佳的困扰，该州已下令学校和教育机构关闭至10月23日。

最近的危机再次引发了人们对印度尼西亚森林和泥炭地火灾反复造成的影响的担忧，这些火灾已多次导致该地区出现严重的雾霾。

安华批准拨款3000万令吉用于重铺霹雳州600条道路，倪可敏表示。

副部长表示，电子商务法案将于明年提交，以规范在线交易。

霹雳州行政议员表示，尽管疫情指标有所改善，但该州仍维持禁止学校户外活动的禁令。