INDONESIA has approved assistance from neighbouring countries to tackle forest and peatland fires whose effects have spread across Southeast Asia, as authorities step up efforts to contain the blazes and reduce the number of hotspots.
Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir said President Prabowo Subianto had given the green light for the assistance, with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) finalising the operational and technical procedures for receiving it.
“The matter has been discussed and is being processed. As we know, the president has already given his approval,” he was quoted as saying by ANTARA News after a meeting at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Thursday.
Malaysia had offered an aircraft, three helicopters and 52 firefighters during a meeting between Prabowo and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in Hambalang, West Java, on Sept 18.
Indonesia had already deployed 60,177 personnel, including firefighters, military and police personnel, forestry officers and local volunteers, as of Oct 13.
Aircraft and helicopters were also being used for aerial water-bombing and cloud-seeding operations in areas at high risk of fire.
Nasir said Prabowo was closely monitoring the situation as the fires affected several regions in Indonesia and the wider Southeast Asian region.
“The measures taken by Indonesia so far have been firm and comprehensive, reflecting our strong commitment to resolving this crisis as quickly as possible,” he said.
Prabowo had previously described the haze as an environmental crisis requiring regional cooperation.
“The fires occur in Indonesia, but their effects are also felt by neighbouring countries. Therefore, we welcome their support,” he said.
Nasir also said Indonesia had shared operational data on containment measures, ground conditions and the latest developments in line with ASEAN’s reporting framework for transboundary haze pollution.
He said large-scale firefighting operations had helped reduce daily hotspot numbers in affected areas, although weather conditions continued to hamper efforts.
Malaysia and Singapore had earlier called for stronger action on the ground as worsening air quality disrupted public activities in border areas. Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said her country was ready to participate in regional cooperation to reduce the impact of forest and land fires across ASEAN. - October 16, 2026