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Indonesia accepts Malaysian assistance to combat Kalimantan wildfires

Malaysia will deploy aircraft and personnel to help extinguish fires raging across Indonesia's Kalimantan region. The assistance package includes specialized firefighting equipment and dozens of trained personnel from multiple agencies.

LSN Malaysia · 19 September 2026

Indonesia accepts Malaysian assistance to combat Kalimantan wildfires

Indonesia has accepted Malaysia's offer to help combat severe wildfires affecting Kalimantan, according to Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The assistance will include a Bombardier aircraft equipped for firefighting operations, three additional helicopters, and 52 personnel drawn from various government agencies.

The deployment represents a significant regional response to the fire crisis engulfing parts of Indonesian Borneo. The specialized aircraft and helicopter support will augment Indonesian firefighting efforts at multiple hotspots across the affected region.

Malaysia's intervention underscores growing cross-border cooperation in addressing environmental emergencies in Southeast Asia. The transnational nature of air pollution and haze from such fires has prompted neighboring countries to coordinate resources and expertise to contain the blazes more effectively.

The deployment of Malaysian personnel and equipment is expected to bolster Indonesia's firefighting capabilities during the critical period when conditions favor rapid fire spread. The joint effort aims to minimize the environmental impact and reduce the haze affecting air quality across the region.