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NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Malaysia to seek preventive measures, diplomatic cooperation over transboundary haze, says Zahid
- Admin UKK
- Berita
KUCHING, Sept 16 — Malaysia prioritises long-term diplomatic cooperation and early preventive measures over seeking compensation from neighbouring countries in addressing the issue of transboundary haze, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also National Disaster Management Committee Chairman, said a prudent and structured diplomatic approach is the most effective way to address sensitive issues among Asean member states while ensuring optimal technical coordination.
“While seeking compensation does not necessarily imply definitive liability that must be borne by any specific country, taking preventive measures early would avoid the need to address such sensitive inter-state issues.
“Diplomatic measures must be pursued alongside technical efforts involving officials from neighbouring countries and Malaysian states,” he told a press conference after chairing the First National Disaster Management High-Level Committee (HLC) Meeting of 2026 at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today.
He was responding to a question on whether Malaysia intended to raise the issue of losses suffered by the country, particularly in terms of the economy, health and tourism, as a result of transboundary haze with the Indonesian government.
Also present were Sarawak Deputy Premier and Chairman of the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN), Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, and Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development, Datuk Rubiah Wang.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid, who is also Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said the transboundary haze issue would be officially raised during his working visit to Jakarta from tomorrow until Sept 20 in conjunction with the Halal-20 Conference: 5th World Halal Summit 2026 (H20 Summit).
“That (the transboundary haze issue) is among the topics to be discussed with the Minister of Environment or the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (in the Malaysian context).
“There are seven ministers who will be holding discussions with me, covering other areas such as the halal sector and so forth.
“A key topic I will discuss and coordinate with Bapak Gibran (Indonesian Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka) is the haze problem,” he said.
Regarding assistance to neighbouring countries, Ahmad Zahid said the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) had been directed to stand ready to coordinate cloud seeding operations (OPA) and logistical support to help tackle forest and peatland fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, should an official request be received from the relevant authorities there.
Meanwhile, in a media statement issued following the meeting, Ahmad Zahid said the government is shifting towards an “anticipatory action” approach to address the threat of extreme hot and dry weather caused by Super El Niño.
The measures include hotspot monitoring, ensuring the readiness of firefighting assets, peatland management, enforcement against open burning and disseminating health information to the public.
“The Department of Minerals and Geoscience Malaysia (JMG) and the Department of Environment (DOE) have been asked to evaluate the use of tube wells as an alternative water source, including refurbishing existing infrastructure in high-risk areas,” he said.
According to the statement, the National Disaster Management Council (MPBN) had also approved a total allocation of RM5 million this year for OPA and related management, comprising RM2 million for Phase One, approved on June 2, and RM3 million for Phase Two, approved on Sept 2. — Bernama
Malaysia prioritising diplomacy, prevention in tackling transboundary haze, says Ahmad Zahid
- Admin UKK
- Berita
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.
KUCHING, 16 September – Malaysia akan terus mengambil pendekatan diplomatik dengan Indonesia dalam usaha menyelesaikan isu jerebu rentas sempadan.
Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi berkata, isu berkenaan perlu ditangani melalui koordinasi antara negara ASEAN dan bukannya melalui tuntutan pampasan.
“Kalau kita meminta pampasan, ia bukan satu pertanggungjawaban muktamad yang harus ditanggung oleh mana-mana negara, tetapi apabila pencegahan dilakukan lebih awal bagi membendung kebakaran hutan, tidak perlu perkara yang menyentuh mengenai soal-soal sensitif.
“Pada hemat saya, langkah-langkah proaktif wajib dilakukan,” katanya kepada media selepas mempengerusikan Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Peringkat Tertinggi Pengurusan Bencana Negara, di sini.
Beliau mengulas mengenai langkah kerajaan dalam menangani isu jerebu rentas sempadan yang telah menjejaskan aktiviti ekonomi dan pendidikan di Malaysia.
Menurut Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid, perkara itu merupakan antara isu yang akan dibincangkan bersama Menteri Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia, Moh Jumhur Hidayat dalam mesyuarat khas di Jakarta, esok.
KUCHING, 16 Sept: Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara (NADMA) tidak perlu menunggu permintaan kerajaan negeri untuk melaksanakan Operasi Pembenihan Awan (OPA), sebaliknya boleh mengambil langkah proaktif berdasarkan khidmat nasihat profesional berkaitan keadaan angin dan awan.
Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi berkata, pelaksanaan OPA akan diselaraskan bersama Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia (METMalaysia) dan Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (TUDM).
“Kita lakukan koordinasi dengan METMalaysia dan TUDM. METMalaysia akan memberikan nasihat apabila awan yang membawa hujan berada di lokasi tertentu untuk dibawa ke kawasan yang memerlukan peningkatan bekalan air di kawasan tadahan.
“Kita akan koordinasikan tanpa adanya permintaan daripada kerajaan negeri pun. Maksudnya, kita mengambil langkah proaktif untuk melakukan pembenihan awan berdasarkan khidmat nasihat dan juga perkhidmatan yang diberikan oleh TUDM,” katanya pada sidang media selepas Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Peringkat Tinggi (HLC) Pengurusan Bencana Pusat bersama Kerajaan Negeri Sarawak, di sini, hari ini.
Zahid berkata, NADMA sebelum ini melaksanakan OPA di Sarawak sekurang-kurangnya tiga kali berdasarkan permintaan kerajaan negeri.
Menurutnya, pendekatan proaktif itu penting berikutan terdapat beberapa takungan air (reservoir) yang mengalami penurunan paras sehingga menyebabkan bekalan air berada dalam keadaan kritikal.
“Untuk negara lain, kita laksanakan berdasarkan permintaan dan kebenaran. Ada yang telah kita laksanakan, namun koordinasi jangka panjang akan terus dilakukan,” ujarnya.
Beliau yang juga Menteri Kemajuan Desa dan Wilayah berkata, perkara berkaitan OPA turut dibincangkan dalam mesyuarat Menteri Sumber Asli dan Kelestarian Alam (NRES) di Bali baru-baru ini, namun belum ada keputusan utama daripada negara berkenaan.
Katanya, perkara itu juga akan dibawa menerusi lawatan kerja beliau ke Jakarta bersama Kerajaan Indonesia.-TVS
Malaysia sedia RM5 juta untuk pembenihan awan, tawar bantuan logistik kepada Indonesia
- Admin UKK
- Berita
KUCHING – Kerajaan Persekutuan kini bertindak beralih kepada pendekatan tindakan awalan bagi menangani situasi jerebu yang melanda negara dengan lebih berkesan, disokong oleh peruntukan keseluruhan berjumlah RM5 juta bagi Operasi Pembenihan Awan (OPA) pada tahun ini.
Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi berkata, peralihan strategi itu membolehkan langkah pencegahan dan kesiapsiagaan digerakkan lebih awal berdasarkan ramalan cuaca, penganalisaan data, serta penilaian risiko berikutan ancaman cuaca panas dan kering berpanjangan akibat fenomena El Nino.
“Tindakan awal ini merangkumi pemantauan kawasan titik panas (hotspot), kesiapsiagaan aset pemadaman kebakaran, pengurusan tanah gambut yang lebih rapi, penguatkuasaan ketat terhadap pembakaran terbuka, serta penyelarasan awal antara kerajaan Persekutuan dengan kerajaan Negeri,” katanya mempengerusikan Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Peringkat Tertinggi (HLC) Pengurusan Bencana Negara Bilangan 1 Tahun 2026 pada Rabu.
Ahmad Zahid yang juga Pengerusi Majlis Pengurusan Bencana Negara (MPBN) menjelaskan, Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara (NADMA) menerusi Pusat Kawalan Operasi Bencana (PKOB) akan menyelaraskan OPA apabila keadaan atmosfera mengizinkan. Mengikut rekod kelulusan MPBN, sejumlah RM2 juta telah disalurkan bagi OPA Fasa Pertama pada 2 Jun lalu, disusuli peruntukan tambahan RM3 juta untuk Fasa Kedua pada 2 September 2026.
Selain ancaman jerebu, beliau turut mengambil maklum tekanan terhadap bekalan air bagi kegunaan domestik, pertanian, dan perindustrian.
Sehubungan itu, Jabatan Mineral dan Geosains (JMG) serta Jabatan Alam Sekitar (JAS) telah diarahkan untuk meneliti segera potensi penggunaan telaga tiub sebagai sumber air alternatif, termasuk membaik pulih infrastruktur sedia ada sebelum kawasan berisiko berdepan krisis kritikal.
Menyentuh mengenai isu jerebu rentas sempadan, Ahmad Zahid mengesahkan bahawa perkara itu akan dibangkitkan secara rasmi dalam lawatan kerjanya ke Indonesia yang dijadualkan bermula pada 17 hingga 20 September ini.
Beliau telah mengarahkan NADMA untuk bersiap sedia mengatur gerak keperluan OPA serta sokongan logistik sekiranya terdapat permohonan rasmi daripada kerajaan Indonesia bagi membantu memadamkan kebakaran hutan dan tanah gambut, khususnya di wilayah Kalimantan.
Bantuan tersebut, bagaimanapun, katanya, tertakluk kepada persetujuan pihak berkuasa negara jiran itu serta kesesuaian cuaca.
Mengulas lanjut, Ahmad Zahid menegaskan bahawa episod jerebu yang menyelubungi Sarawak ketika ini perlu dijadikan asas untuk memperkukuh kesiapsiagaan negara secara menyeluruh.
“Hasil mesyuarat HLC ini bukan sahaja tertumpu untuk menangani keadaan semasa, tetapi turut diterjemahkan kepada penambahbaikan jangka sederhana dan panjang terhadap Pelan Tindakan Jerebu Kebangsaan (PTJK), mekanisme pengurusan bencana, serta diplomasi jerebu rentas sempadan bagi melindungi kesihatan dan kesejahteraan rakyat,” tegasnya.