Jakarta, ThedailyID — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed Malaysia’s readiness to help Indonesia tackle forest and land fires that have caused transboundary haze. He also proposed stronger cooperation among ASEAN member states to address the recurring problem.
In a Facebook post on Monday, October 19, 2026, Anwar said he was closely monitoring the fires in Indonesia. He noted that the resulting haze had affected people in Malaysia, particularly their health and daily activities.
The pollution has also forced schools to close in several Malaysian states and territories. Anwar said Malaysia remained ready to provide assistance, as it had offered previously, according to Malay Mail.
Anwar also praised Indonesia’s efforts to contain the fires. He acknowledged the deployment of tens of thousands of personnel and various aerial assets to support firefighting operations.
However, he recognized that tackling forest fires remains a complex challenge. The wide areas affected and unpredictable weather conditions have made firefighting efforts more difficult.
Anwar stressed that transboundary haze requires shared commitment and responsibility from countries across the region. He said Indonesia and Malaysia should work together in line with their close bilateral ties and the spirit of regional cooperation.
Malaysia has proposed an ASEAN-level cooperation mechanism to strengthen coordination, preparedness and collective action against transboundary haze, Anwar said, as reported by Bernama.
The proposal aims to encourage a more coordinated regional response when forest fires cause air pollution that crosses national borders. However, Anwar’s statement did not provide further details on the proposed mechanism or when ASEAN members might discuss its implementation.
