Malaysia Offers Military Assistance Fighting Forest Fire, Haze
30 September 2015 09:18 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-The Malaysian government offered military assistance to tackle fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, which generated thick haze to cover Malaysia and Singapore, the Malay Mail reported, Tuesday, September 29.
Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein claimed to have talked about this collaboration with Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu.
“There should be a joint effort to realize [the cooperation]. My relationship with Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Heng and Ryamizard is very close," said Hishammuddin.
Aside from Malaysia, Singapore also offered to help. The Government of Singapore twice offered to help with military troops to fight forest fires inSumatra and Kalimantan.
Singaporean Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan called Indonesian Minister of Environment and ForestrySiti Nurbaya Bakar to send C-130 and Chinooks aircrafts to generate artificial rain. But the offer was rejected by the Indonesian government.
On Sunday, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the Indonesian government is open to any country, including Singapore if they want to help extinguish forest fires in the country to eliminate the haze.
“We are open. Singapore can come and help," said Vice President Jusuf Kalla in New York, USA, Sunday, September 27.
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