MALAYSIA is ready to deploy an aircraft, three helicopters and 50 personnel to help Indonesia fight forest and land fires, but the operation remains subject to official approval from Jakarta.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the assistance, offered through the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and other security agencies, could be mobilised once Indonesia’s approval was secured.
He said the offer reflected Malaysia’s commitment to helping its neighbour tackle fires that have contributed to transboundary haze affecting Malaysia, Singapore, Timor-Leste and Indonesia.
“However small our assistance may be, it is a good gesture to help our closest neighbour. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has also contacted Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on this matter.
“We are committed to providing this assistance to address the haze problem, which has affected Malaysia, Singapore, Timor-Leste and Indonesia itself,” he told reporters after officiating at the Road Safety Congress 2026 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) on Monday.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was previously reported to have approved offers of foreign assistance to address the fires, although Malaysia is still awaiting formal clearance for its proposed deployment.
Separately, Zahid, who chairs the National Disaster Management Committee, said the government was strengthening preparations for the Northeast Monsoon, which brings an increased risk of flooding.
He said authorities would focus on improving readiness and using existing early warning systems to ensure residents could be evacuated before floodwaters threatened their safety.
“This preparedness effort will continue, and we are grateful that it also involves non-governmental organisations, in addition to government departments and agencies,” he said.
Zahid said the National Preparedness Month programme held in Ipoh two weeks ago had gone well, adding that the government hoped to minimise the impact of flooding through coordinated action by public agencies and non-governmental organisations. - October 19, 2026