IPOH: Malaysia wants to help resolve the transboundary haze issue rather than taking legal action against Indonesia, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said while the Attorney General’s Chambers could look into the legal aspect, the government prefers coordination between both countries in handling the issue.
“In the spirit of Asean, prevention is better than cure, rather than relying on reactive measures,” he said at a press conference after launching the National Preparedness Month.
Also present were Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad and National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) director-general Datuk Meor Ismail Meor Akim.
Haze from Indonesian wildfires has affected Malaysia for more than a month, causing school closures and respiratory issues.
Ahmad Zahid said he offered Malaysia’s assistance to combat spot and forest fires when he met with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
Nadma, he said, had written to their Indonesian counterpart but has yet to receive a response.
“We take a positive view that perhaps they do not require our assistance. We remain optimistic and assume the best.”
Separately, Ahmad Zahid said disaster risk mitigation plans must be prepared before starting any development to help reduce property losses, including damage to public assets and infrastructure.
“Development of land, roads, houses and infrastructure cannot be done without considering the safety of the people in the area.
“Some risks build up years before disaster strikes. It begins when development does not take into account water flow in drainage systems that is not apace with urban growth, and settlements continue to grow in risky areas.”
Ahmad Zahid said while rescue teams are efficient when dealing with the aftermath of a disaster, plans must be in place to reduce the risks before they occur.
The Deputy Prime Minister called on states to devise an action plan based on the National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy 2030 and according to local risks to minimise impact on the people.
“Our preparedness must protect two important values – life and economy. We want to save lives, in addition to protecting people’s homes and livelihoods before any disaster strikes.”
According to the Statistics Department, losses of about RM637mil were recorded due to natural disasters in 2025, including about RM380mil worth of damage to public assets and infrastructure.
In 2024, the losses recorded were RM933.4mil.
