Malaysia offers cloud-seeding expertise to help Indonesia combat transboundary haze

At a symposium on the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme, Deputy Foreign Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni emphasized Malaysia's track record in forest-fire control and regular cloud-seeding missions, citing past incidents in Sarawak. He stated that Malaysia stands ready to accelerate the dispatch of a specialised team to Indonesia once implementation details are agreed. The proposed assistance would include logistics, personnel and equipment, with a focus on the Kalimantan region, subject to Indonesian screening.

Previously, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi disclosed that Malaysia had earmarked a Bombardier CL-415MP water-bomber, three helicopters and roughly 50 firefighters for the effort. However, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman indicated that foreign aid would only be considered after a formal national disaster declaration, as the government believes it can manage the fires with domestic resources.