PUTRAJAYA, Oct 23 - The Foreign Ministry and Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry have yet to receive a response from Indonesia about the type of assistance required to address the forest fires causing the haze, said Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.
He added that Malaysia is prepared to deploy assets to assist in firefighting efforts.
Fahmi, who is Madani Government spokesman, noted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasised the importance of maintaining strong diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Indonesia today’s Cabinet meeting,
“The prime minister expressed his appreciation for the positive diplomatic ties between Malaysia and Indonesia and reiterated Malaysia’s readiness to cooperate, including by providing assets to support firefighting operations.
“The offer still stands. Malaysia remains prepared to provide assistance in the form of assets, should it be required,” he said during a press conference following the Cabinet meeting here today.
He added that the Cabinet was also briefed on the haze by Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup.
Meanwhile, Fahmi said Putrajaya has taken note of Indonesia’s announcement today about enforcement against 11 companies linked to the forest fires in Kalimantan, but clarified that no Malaysian companies were implicated.
