Malaysia, Indonesia Strengthen Cooperation to Tackle Transboundary Haze
KUCHING: Malaysia will strengthen cooperation with Indonesia in addressing the transboundary haze issue through a preventative approach and continuous coordination to reduce the risk of recurring incidents.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Patinggi Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stated that the issue will be among the key agendas during his official working visit to Jakarta, Republic of Indonesia, starting Thursday.
According to him, the matter is scheduled to be discussed with Indonesia's Minister of Environment as well as the Vice President of Indonesia Gibran Rakabuming Raka as part of efforts to reinforce coordination between both countries, particularly in managing hotspots that could contribute to haze.
“Among the important topics is the haze problem, which I will discuss and coordinate with Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the Vice President of Indonesia,” he said.
He told reporters this after chairing the National Disaster High-Level Committee Meeting here on Wednesday.
Datuk Patinggi Dr. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said long-term approaches must be prioritized to prevent haze issues from recurring and impacting neighboring countries.
“In my view, proactive measures are mandatory among ASEAN member states, especially when dealing with haze issues involving a neighboring country,” he added.
In the meantime, he emphasised that regional cooperation is vital to ensuring preventative measures can be executed more effectively, particularly when facing transboundary air pollution issues.
Datuk Patinggi Dr. Ahmad Zahid is scheduled to undertake an official working visit to Jakarta from September 17 to 20, 2026, to attend the Halal-20 Conference: The 5th World Halal Summit 2026 (Summit H20), organized by the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH), Republic of Indonesia.
Also present during the meeting were Sarawak Deputy and Chairman of the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, and Deputy Minister for Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang. — UKASnews
