Malaysia will deploy aircraft, helicopters, and firefighters as regional haze continues spreading.
Indonesia and Malaysia are expanding cross-border cooperation against severe forest fires, with President Prabowo Subianto accepting Kuala Lumpur’s offer of firefighting personnel and aircraft as haze continues affecting neighboring countries.
Prabowo Accepts Malaysia’s Assistance
Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on September 19 that Indonesia had approved Malaysia’s offer to assist with firefighting operations. The fires were discussed when Zahid met President Prabowo Subianto on September 18, with Prabowo accepting the Malaysian deployment as Indonesia continued battling fires across Kalimantan and Sumatra.
Malaysia Prepares Aircraft and Firefighters
Malaysia’s planned assistance includes a Bombardier CL-415MP firefighting aircraft, three helicopters, and 52 personnel ready to support operations in Indonesia. Zahid said he appreciated Prabowo’s willingness to accept the assistance, which will add Malaysian resources to Indonesia’s continuing effort to contain the fires.
Leaders Discuss Preventing Future Haze
Zahid said the two leaders also discussed preventive measures aimed at addressing forest fires and cross-border haze in a more organized manner. Prabowo acknowledged that although the fires were occurring in Indonesia, their effects were also being experienced by neighboring countries and said Indonesia welcomed Malaysia’s offer to help.
Japan Has Also Joined Firefighting Efforts
Malaysia’s assistance follows international support already provided by Japan, which sent more than 300 personnel to Borneo to help contain the fires. Indonesia has been fighting wildfires for weeks across Borneo and Sumatra, with smoke affecting parts of Indonesia as well as neighboring Malaysia and Singapore.
More Than 202,000 Hectares Burned by July
Indonesian government data showed that more than 202,000 hectares of land burned between January and July 2026. The Nusantara Atlas project estimated nearly 300,000 hectares were affected during the same period and put the total at almost 896,000 hectares when August was included, illustrating the scale of the 2026 fire season reported in the supplied articles.
For Indonesians, Malaysia’s deployment adds regional resources to ongoing efforts to contain the fires and reduce their impact. For Singaporeans, the cooperation is also directly relevant because smoke from the Indonesian fires has already affected Singapore’s air quality. The Indonesia-Malaysia discussions also show that cross-border coordination has become part of the response to the current haze episode.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , NST (2026)
Keywords: Indonesia Malaysia Wildfires, Prabowo Malaysia Assistance, Kalimantan Forest Fires, Malaysia Firefighting Aircraft, Transboundary Haze, Indonesia Haze 2026
