Transboundary Haze: Malaysia Prioritises Diplomacy and Early Prevention – Ahmad Zahid

KUCHING: Malaysia is prioritising long-term diplomatic cooperation and early preventive measures rather than seeking compensation from neighbouring countries in addressing the transboundary haze issue, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Chairman of the National Disaster Management Council, said a prudent and structured diplomatic approach was the most effective way to avoid sensitive issues arising among ASEAN member states while ensuring that technical coordination could be carried out effectively.

“If we seek compensation, it does not necessarily mean that any particular country should bear ultimate responsibility. However, if preventive measures are taken early, issues involving sensitivities between countries need not arise.

“Diplomatic measures must be pursued alongside technical efforts between officials in neighbouring countries and the states in Malaysia,” he told a press conference after chairing the National Disaster Management High-Level Committee (HLC) Meeting No. 1/2026 at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today.

He said this when asked whether Malaysia intended to raise with the Indonesian government the issue of losses suffered by the country, particularly in terms of the economy, health and tourism, as a result of transboundary haze.

Sarawak Deputy Premier and Chairman of the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN), Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, and Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang were also present.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the transboundary haze issue would be officially raised during his working visit to Jakarta from tomorrow until Sept 20 in conjunction with the Halal-20 Conference: 5th World Halal Summit 2026 (Summit H20).

“The transboundary haze issue will be among the topics discussed with Indonesia’s Environment Minister, whose portfolio is equivalent to Malaysia’s Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister. Seven ministers will hold discussions with me on various matters, including the halal sector and others.

“One of the important topics will be the haze issue, which I will discuss and coordinate with Mr Gibran [Indonesian Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka],” he said.

On assistance to the neighbouring country, Ahmad Zahid said the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) had been instructed to be ready to coordinate support for cloud-seeding operations and logistics to help tackle forest and peatland fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, should an official request be received from the country’s authorities.

Separately, Ahmad Zahid said in a media statement on the meeting that the government was shifting towards an anticipatory action approach to address the threat of extreme hot and dry weather resulting from Super El Niño.

The measures include monitoring hotspots, ensuring the readiness of firefighting assets, managing peatland areas, enforcing regulations against open burning and providing health information to the public.

“The Department of Mineral and Geoscience Malaysia (JMG) and the Department of Environment (DOE) have been asked to assess the use of tube wells as an alternative water source, including rehabilitating existing infrastructure in high-risk areas,” he said.

According to the statement, the National Disaster Management Council (MPBN) also approved a total allocation of RM5 million for cloud-seeding operations and related management this year, comprising RM2 million for Phase One, approved on June 2, and RM3 million for Phase Two, approved on Sept 2.

Bernama