Malaysia sends help to Sumatera to fight forest fires

“Greenpeace’s analysis shows that so far this year, 40% of fire hotspots across Indonesia have been in peatlands, which make up a fraction of the nation’s landmass”.

Abdul Rahman said the expertise and experience of the country’s firefighters could not be denied and they would be deployed to Indonesia for as long as necessary.

Detiknews.com reported him as saying: “We just want to remind the Singapore and Malaysian governments as friends in ASEAN, if they want to help Indonesia, do it sincerely”.

Malaysia is the the only Asian country that owns the aircraft to date. The specifications of the drones were not revealed but The Straits Times understands that Indonesia has drones that can operate up to a range of 200km.

Six countries will help Indonesia fight forest fires which have sent choking smog across parts of South-East Asia, President Joko Widodo said on Friday.

South Sumatra is now the focus of firefighting operations, with most of the 25-strong fleet of aircraft – mostly helicopters and planes with water-bombing capabilities – being sent to the province.

The foreign aids would be concentrated at South Sumatra province as more hot spots are located there, said Widodo.

Laksamana Madya Datuk Che Hassan Jusoh said the air assets which carried logistical equipment, MMEA and RMAF personnel as well as media representatives were expected to arrive within two hours of departure.

Haze from forest fires is an annual hazard that also frequently affects neighbouring Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

The mission, costing RM1.5 million, was initiated after the Indonesian government asked for Malaysia’s assistance from Malaysia in battling the haze which continues to envelope the region.

Yesterday, he surveyed the damage caused by fires in Ogan Komering Ilir, one of the worst-hit areas in Sumatra.

But he believes that, in three to four weeks, numerous fires should be gone once the joint water-bombing operations begin.