Indonesia appreciates regional support as fires continue across Sumatra and Kalimantan.
Indonesia has welcomed offers from Singapore and Malaysia to help combat widespread forest and land fires, as thick haze continues affecting air quality across several Southeast Asian countries.
Indonesia Welcomes Regional Assistance
Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry said it appreciated the readiness of Singapore and Malaysia to assist with forest and land fires, describing the offers as a sign of friendship and regional cooperation. However, Indonesian officials could not confirm as of October 10 whether Singapore’s offer had been formally accepted, with international coordination being handled through Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry.
Ground Crews Could Be More Useful
National Disaster Mitigation Agency acting spokesman Berton Panjaitan said ground personnel could be more useful than helicopters because heavy smoke has reduced visibility in fire-affected areas. He stressed that this was his personal assessment rather than an official request for foreign assistance and said BNPB was not responsible for negotiating international support.
Singapore and Malaysia Offer Support
Singapore Sustainability and Environment Minister Grace Fu said on October 10 that she had contacted Indonesian Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat to offer assistance. Malaysia has also been offering support, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim saying he had spoken with President Prabowo Subianto about the haze. Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said on October 7 that Prabowo had accepted Malaysia’s offer, although deployment arrangements were still being discussed.
Fires Continue Across Sumatra and Kalimantan
Indonesia continues battling fires across Sumatra and Kalimantan, including difficult peatland fires. The Forestry Ministry said 61 aircraft were on standby on October 9, while air quality remained unhealthy to very unhealthy in several affected areas. Officials said prolonged heat and dryness intensified by a very strong El Niño have contributed to the unusually severe fire season.
Singapore PSI Reaches 192
The regional impact has been significant, with Singapore’s 24-hour PSI reaching 192 in central Singapore at 6 p.m. on October 9, the country’s highest reading of 2026 at that point and just below the very unhealthy range starting at 201. Indonesian officials said protecting communities in Indonesia and across the region remained a priority as firefighting operations continued.
Indonesia’s response signals openness to closer regional cooperation as persistent fires continue affecting air quality beyond its borders. For Indonesians, the immediate focus remains controlling fires and protecting communities in affected provinces. For Singaporeans and Malaysians, stronger cross-border coordination could become increasingly important as haze continues to disrupt daily life and public health across the region.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , The Star (2026)
Keywords: Indonesia Haze 2026, Singapore Haze Assistance, Malaysia Fire Assistance, Indonesia Forest Fires, Transboundary Haze, ASEAN Cooperation
