PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim raised cross-border forest fires and the West Asia conflict during informal talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in New Delhi.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has taken the issue of cross-border forest fires directly to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, putting the regional environmental threat at the centre of their informal talks during the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit dinner.
In a post on his official social media accounts following engagements with several global leaders, Anwar said the discussions with Prabowo also covered the conflict in West Asia.
“With President Prabowo Subianto, we also touched on the issue of forest fires as well as the development of the conflict in West Asia, which requires consensus and joint action.”
Anwar also renewed his invitation to Prabowo to visit Malaysia as soon as possible so that several pending bilateral matters could be discussed and finalised.
Recent reports have highlighted a sharp spike in forest and peatland fires across Kalimantan and Sumatra, driven by dry weather and widespread “slash-and-burn” practices to clear land for oil palm and agricultural expansion.
Indonesian authorities have deployed cloud-seeding planes and water-bombing helicopters while arresting dozens of individuals and targeting companies linked to illegal burning.
The dinner on Saturday also provided a platform for wider diplomatic outreach, with Anwar meeting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbekistan Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Kuchkarov, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
“Our discussions touched on global geopolitical developments, especially the conflict and ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza as well as tensions in West Asia.
“This situation demands a unified resolve from the international community, especially world leaders, to stop the bloodshed and work towards a fair and lasting solution.”