Malaysia to help Indonesia control wildfires

Malaysia will send aircraft, helicopters and 52 personnel to help Indonesia control severe wildfires, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Saturday (September 19).

Wildfires have been burning for weeks on Indonesia’s Borneo and Sumatra islands, with smoke spreading across parts of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

Malaysia is preparing to send a Bombardier CL-415MP aircraft, three helicopters and 52 personnel after Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto approved the assistance during a meeting with Zahid on Friday.

The two countries also discussed stronger cooperation to prevent future wildfires and cross-border haze. Prabowo welcomed Malaysia’s support, saying the fires were affecting neighbouring countries.

Japan also sent more than 300 troops to help fight fires on Borneo last week.