Ahmad Zahid to discuss with Indonesian government on transboundary haze issue

KUCHING, Sept 16 2026: Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today he will raise the transboundary haze issue with the Indonesian government during his working visit to the republic starting tomorrow.

Caption: Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says that proactive measures must be taken by ASEAN member countries, especially when it involves haze with a neighbouring country

He said he will discuss the  matter with the Indonesian Minister of Environment and the Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka as an effort to strengthen coordination between the two countries, especially in addressing hotspot incidents that can contribute to haze.

“Among the important topics is the haze problem which I will discuss and coordinate with Gibran Rakabuming Raka, also the Indonesian Vice President,” he told reporters after chairing the National Disaster Supreme Committee meeting here today.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said a long-term approach must be given priority to prevent the haze problem from recurring and affecting neighbouring countries.

“In my opinion, proactive measures must be taken by ASEAN member countries, especially when it involves haze with a neighbouring country,” he said.

In the meantime, he stressed that regional cooperation is very important in ensuring that preventive measures can be implemented more effectively, especially when facing cross-border air pollution issues.

Ahmad Zahid is scheduled to make a working visit to Jakarta from 17 to 20 September 2026 to attend the Halal-20 Conference: The 5th World Halal Summit 2026 (Summit H20), organised by the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH), Republic of Indonesia.

Also present during the meeting were Deputy Premier and Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) chairman Douglas Uggah Embas and Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Rubiah Wang.