KUCHING: Malaysia will seek a high-level coordination mechanism with Indonesia to manage and prevent recurring transboundary haze, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said Malaysia's main aim during a meeting with Indonesian Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka in Jakarta on Thursday (Sept 17) would be to propose measures to prevent and manage disasters that affect more than one country, including other Asean nations.
Ahmad Zahid also dismissed calls for Malaysia to seek compensation from Indonesia for losses caused by haze from fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, saying diplomatic solutions should take precedence.
"We believe prevention is better than cure, so there is a need to take early preventive measures," he told a press conference after chairing a high-level committee meeting on national disaster management here on Wednesday.
Describing this as a long-term approach, he said seeking compensation "would not represent a definitive responsibility that should be borne by any particular country".
"For me, diplomatic measures must be taken alongside technical efforts between officials of neighbouring countries," he said.
Ahmad Zahid cited flood management with Thailand as an example of the need for cross-border coordination.
He said when Thailand released water from dams that were at risk of overflowing, the water could flow into northern and east coast states in Peninsular Malaysia and cause flooding.
With a coordination mechanism between Malaysia and Thailand, water releases and the resulting flood risks could be managed more effectively, he said.
On preparations for the "Super El Niño" that could affect Malaysia next month, Ahmad Zahid said the committee had agreed that cloud seeding operations need not wait for requests from state authorities.
"Our position now is that we should not wait for a request before conducting cloud seeding operations," he said.
He said the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) could initiate cloud seeding if conditions were suitable.
Sarawak earlier this month requested cloud seeding over its three main hydroelectric dams — Batang Ai, Bakun and Murum — as well as about a dozen water catchment areas across the state to raise water levels.
The HLC also agreed that the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) would purchase disaster management assets such as boats and trucks before allocating them to relevant agencies, including the police, Fire and Rescue Department and Civil Defence Force.
The respective agencies would be responsible for maintaining the assets.
