Malaysia’s Cloud-seeding Experience Could Help Indonesia Tackle Haze

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 (NNN) -- Malaysia’s experience in managing forest fires and conducting cloud-seeding operations could help Indonesia tackle forest fires that contribute to transboundary haze.

Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni said Malaysia had experience in tackling forest fires, including in Sarawak, and frequently conducted cloud-seeding operations, which could be leveraged to assist the neighbouring country.

“Malaysia’s team has experience in managing forest fire incidents, such as those in Sarawak, and cloud-seeding operations are also regularly carried out in Malaysia. This could potentially help Indonesia,” he said.

He told reporters this after delivering the keynote address at the Symposium on the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP): Prosperity Through Partnership here on Wednesday.

Lukanisman said Malaysia was ready to expedite the deployment of an assistance team to Indonesia to tackle forest fires once the implementation arrangements had been finalised.

“We are always ready. If Indonesia accepts the offer, we will expedite the deployment of our mission to help extinguish the fires or share our experience in managing forest fires,” he said.

He said details concerning logistics, personnel deployment, expertise and equipment for Malaysia’s assistance were still being discussed.

“Certainly, the assistance we provide will involve logistics and personnel.

“This requires a screening process, as the Indonesian side is still assessing the expertise and equipment we would bring to assist them, particularly in Kalimantan,” he said.

On Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malaysia had offered a Bombardier CL-415MP aircraft, three helicopters and about 50 personnel to help Indonesia tackle forest and land fires.

However, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman was reported to have said on the same day that foreign assistance, including from Malaysia, would have to wait until a national disaster had been declared.

He said Indonesia had not made such a declaration because the government was still capable of tackling the fires using local resources.

--NNN