Bernama 13 Jun 09;
SHAH ALAM, June 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is ready to help Indonesia put out its raging forest and open fires, the wind-blown smoke of which has caused a haze in some parts of Malaysia and reduced visibility and air quality.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak made the offer of assistance when asked whether Malaysia was prepared to help out, especially to extinguish the fires in Sumatra.
Malaysia had special aircraft, owned by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), which could drop water bombs to put out the fires, he told a news conference after chairing a meeting of the Selangor Umno Liaison Committee, here today.
The air quality in Peninsular Malaysia, particularly in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, and Port Klang, Selangor, had dropped due to the haze.
"The air quality has dropped but has yet to reach a dangerous level. However, we could reduce outdoor activities," Najib said.
In August 2005, a team of 125 Malaysian fire-fighters and members of the special disaster assistance and rescue team helped to douse more than 1,000 forest fires in Riau and northern Sumatra in Indonesia.
-- BERNAMA
Malaysia to aid Indonesia ahead of haze season
AFP 14 Jun 09;
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Malaysia has offered to help Indonesia curb forest fires blamed for the choking haze that shrouds the region each year, media reports said, as air quality fell in the country.
In the dry season, Indonesian farmers burn forests to clear land for agriculture, causing a smoky haze that spreads across the region, affecting tourism and increasing health problems.
"We have special aeroplanes which can be used to carry out water bombing," the Sunday Star quoted Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak as saying.
"It is up to the Indonesian government to accept it," the premier told the newspaper, as he urged Malaysians to avoid open burning.
Malaysian environment authorities said air quality and visibility in parts of the country over the past week fell from "good" to "moderate."
On Sunday morning, the environment department said 22 out of 49 areas it monitored were "moderate," an improvement from Friday when three areas including capital Kuala Lumpur were "unhealthy."
The Indonesian government has outlawed land-clearing by fire but weak enforcement means the ban is largely ignored.
Environment ministers from Singapore, Malaysia and other regional nations have urged Indonesia promptly to ratify a regional treaty aimed at preventing cross-border haze pollution.
Malaysia said last year that it will help Indonesian farmers practise safer farming methods, to help curb the forest fires, by sending experts to the fire-prone Riau region on Indonesia's Sumatra island.
The haze hit its worst level in 1997-98, costing the region an estimated nine billion dollars by disrupting air travel, tourism and other business activities as smoke enveloped the region.
Offer to help Jakarta fight forest fires
New Straits Times 14 Jun 09;
SHAH ALAM: The government is willing to assist the Indonesian government in putting out its forest fires, which have contributed to the worsening haze condition in the peninsula.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Malaysia had the facilities and equipment, including a special amphibious plane with water bombing capability, to help fight the forest fires in the republic.
"I hope the Indonesian government will consider this offer. We can offer our assistance but it is up to them to accept it," he said after chairing the monthly Selangor Umno liaison committee meeting, here, yesterday.
Najib, who is also state liaison commitee chairman, said the air quality in the country was worsening but had not reached a dangerous level.
"We can cut down on activities that can expose us to polluted air. We also need to monitor the situation.
"This is to determine what other steps can be taken, including conducting internal meetings and reducing other active activities that can worsen the air quality."
On Friday, Kajang, Cheras, Shah Alam and Klang recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) of between 100 and 136.
The Meteorological Department detected 57 hotspots in Sumatra while six isolated hotspots were detected in Peninsular Malaysia and 10 in Sabah and Sarawak.
The number of hotspots in central and northern Sumatra have increased due to the dry weather.
Malaysia received its first amphibious plane, the Bombardier CL415, from Canadian manufacturer Bombardier Aerospace, to be used by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (Malaysian Maritime) in January.
The first of its kind in Southeast Asia, the plane can carry water, fly low and land on water, which makes it suitable for fire fighting duties, among others.
Malaysia will receive its second amphibian plane by the end of the year.
