Malaysia pledges continued aid to Indonesia as haze and flood threats loom

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that Malaysia will maintain its aid to Indonesia in tackling the forest fires that generate a haze spreading across Malaysia, Singapore, Timor-Leste and Indonesia itself. The pledged assets consist of a Bombardier plane, three helicopters and a contingent of 52 staff members, which he acknowledged are limited compared with the overall firefighting effort but will continue to be deployed.

Zahid also warned that the approaching northeast monsoon poses a new danger, potentially causing widespread flooding after the haze subsides. He emphasized that Malaysia is on standby to address both the fire-related haze and the forthcoming flood risk. The comments were delivered to reporters following his role in the Road Safety Congress 2026 held in Kuala Lumpur.