Indonesia intensifies firefighting operations as Malaysia offers assistance

Indonesia intensified firefighting operations in Sumatra and Kalimantan on Monday, using aerial water bombing to combat forest and land fires, as neighboring Malaysia offered assistance, state media reported. Indonesian Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said 26 water-bombing operations had been carried out in the Perlu River and Rengas Bay areas, according to state-run Antara news agency. He said six water-bombing helicopters were available in Central Kalimantan but had not yet operated because of limited visibility at Tjilik Riwut Airport. Sapto Aji Prabowo, the ministry's director of area conservation, said ground firefighting efforts had been intensified with sufficient supplies of pumps, floating pumps, portable pumps, mini-strikes and hoses. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto earlier ordered firefighting operations to prioritize Tanjung Puting National Park, followed by other affected areas in the province and South Sumatra. Tanjung Puting National Park is the world's largest conservation and rehabilitation center for orangutans. Meanwhile, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Kuala Lumpur remained ready to assist Indonesia in combating forest and land fires that have caused transboundary haze, state-run Bernama news agency reported. Malaysia has also proposed a cooperation mechanism within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, to strengthen joint efforts against forest and land fires. Anwar acknowledged Indonesia's efforts to contain the fires, including the deployment of tens of thousands of personnel and various aerial assets.