Malaysia has officially offered Indonesia assistance to tackle forest fires, including a Bombardier CL-415MP aircraft previously used in firefighting operations in the country. Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi conveyed the offer to Indonesian Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka during his working visit to Jakarta on September 17.
The proposed assistance also includes three helicopters and 52 officers and personnel from Malaysia’s National Disaster Management Agency, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Royal Malaysian Air Force. The deployment would require approval from Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto before it can proceed.
The Bombardier CL-415MP, operated by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, is designed for aerial firefighting and can collect water from lakes, seas or rivers before releasing it over affected areas. The aircraft was previously deployed to South Sumatra in 2015, where it dropped 546,000 litres of water during a five-day operation.
Malaysia’s latest offer comes as Indonesia faces severe forest and land fires across parts of Sumatra and Borneo. Smoke from the fires has also crossed national borders, affecting air quality in Malaysia and Singapore. Indonesia has deployed more than 50 aircraft for firefighting and cloud-seeding operations as authorities work to contain the fires.
Zahid said the proposed assistance is intended to address transboundary haze while supporting Indonesia’s firefighting efforts. Malaysia and Indonesia already cooperate on disaster management through bilateral meetings and joint exercises, including arrangements under ASEAN.
