Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (L) and Indonesia Vice President Jusuf Kalla at the meeting (Photo: nst.com.my) Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to coordinate in solving the haze crisis in the latter which is seriously affecting the neighbouring countries.
The consensus was reached during a meeting between Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla in Jakarta on September 18.
The Malaysian side voiced its support to Indonesia in dealing with Malaysian companies involved in forest fires.
On September 16, Indonesian Minister for Environment and Forestry Siti Bakar mentioned Malaysian companies among over 20 firms being investigated by local police for causing forest fires.
The Malaysian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on September 18 that the royal air force sent two military air-freighters to evacuate 173 Malaysian nationals, mostly students, in Indonesia’s haze-hit Riau province.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Consulate in Riau’s Pekanbaru capital city estimated about 400 Malaysians are living in the Indonesian province of Sumatra, where air pollution is reported to exceed the “harzadous” level.-VNA
