Indonesia Finally Accepts Malaysia's Aid to Combat Forest and Land Fires

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Indonesian government has finally agreed to accept Malaysia's offer of assistance to combat forest and land fires (karhutla) and to help reduce the risk of cross-border haze.

The offer was personally accepted by President Prabowo Subianto during his meeting with Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java, on Friday (18/9/2026).

"We discussed various issues, and first, Malaysia offered assistance to help us tackle forest fires in Kalimantan," Prabowo said after the meeting on Friday, as quoted from the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel.

Prabowo revealed that Malaysia would send one airplane, three helicopters, and 52 firefighting personnel to assist in managing the forest fires.

He expressed gratitude for the support.

The President noted that the two countries share a close friendship, which calls for maintaining good relations.

"This is an environmental issue that affects many parties. Although the fires occur in Indonesia, the impact is felt by our neighbors, so they want to help us, and we welcome this support," he said.

The Head of State promised to formulate preventive measures related to forest fires.

"This has been done several years ago, and I am currently preparing comprehensive prevention steps so that these fires do not repeatedly emerge every few years," Prabowo added.

Malaysia's plan to assist Indonesia in combating forest fires had surfaced a week earlier.

Malaysia's Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, stated that the form and scope of aid would be further discussed with Indonesian authorities, taking into account the needs and conditions on the ground.

"Malaysia is ready to provide assistance if needed by Indonesia to handle forest and land fires as well as to reduce the risk of cross-border haze," Arthur said in a statement on Wednesday (9/9/2026), quoted from Bernama.

The capabilities offered by Malaysia include water bombing operations using helicopters, firefighting support with amphibious aircraft, and cloud seeding operations to generate artificial rain.

Arthur confirmed he had sent a letter to Indonesia's Minister of Environment Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat expressing Malaysia's readiness to provide assistance.

This offer follows continued communication between the two countries concerning forest fire threats and cross-border haze.

Agreement Between the Two Countries

Acting Head of the BNPB's Data, Information, and Disaster Communication Center, Berton SP Panjaitan, explained that accepting foreign assistance to combat forest fires requires an agreement between both countries.

Berton said a bilateral agreement is necessary to ensure that aid delivered is effective in firefighting, especially concerning the use of airspace.

"The mechanisms, assistance forms, operational needs, including the use of aerial assets, must be coordinated and agreed upon first by both governments to ensure the assistance is truly effective and safe in the field," Berton said when confirmed by Kompas.com on Thursday (10/9/2026).

So far, Berton noted that BNPB highly appreciates Malaysia's readiness to help Indonesia manage forest fires.

"In principle, all international support is welcomed positively, provided it aligns with the needs on the ground and the applicable intergovernmental cooperation mechanisms," he said.

Berton added that BNPB would inform the Malaysian government about specific needs once an agreement is reached.

No Need for Pride

Regarding this assistance, Deputy Chair of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Dave Laksono, emphasized that there should be no pride that prevents accepting help.

"There is no reason to view assistance from friendly countries as a matter of pride," Dave told Kompas.com on Friday (11/9/2026).

He explained that Malaysia's offer to assist in handling the forest fires deserves a positive reception.

In disaster situations, Dave said, the main priority is ensuring the fire is quickly controlled and minimizing impact on the public, including disruptions to flights due to haze.

"Indonesia has its own capabilities and resources, but support that can strengthen field operations is certainly welcome, as long as it matches our needs," he said.

Dave added that such cooperation is not new, as it was discussed in bilateral meetings in Bali on July 8, 2026, and in a telephone conversation on August 24, 2026.

"The important thing is that the entire process remains coordinated through the government, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so that aid matches the on-ground needs and the mechanisms are clear," Dave said.