Singapore and Malaysia’s offers to help fight forest and land fires were not discussed at Indonesia’s cabinet meeting on 12 October 2026, an Indonesian minister said.
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman was responding to reporters after the meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.
“It has not been discussed yet,” he said when asked whether the meeting had addressed both countries’ offers, according to ANTARA.
His answer concerned what was discussed at that meeting. It should not be read as an announcement that Indonesia had rejected either offer.
Prabowo Orders Stronger Firefighting Efforts
At the meeting, President Prabowo Subianto directed firefighting efforts towards Tanjung Puting National Park and other affected areas in Central Kalimantan, as well as South Sumatra.
Dudung said the park received particular attention because of its role in orangutan conservation and rehabilitation.
Thick smoke is also complicating efforts to tackle the fires. Dudung said ground operations were being relied on in areas that were difficult to reach by helicopter.
He added that the government was strengthening prevention efforts through coordination between security personnel, local authorities and communities, alongside campaigns in areas at risk of fires.
Singapore Offered Support, Malaysia Was Awaiting A Response
Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said on 10 October that she had contacted her Indonesian counterpart, Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat, to offer support and express appreciation for efforts to contain the fires.
“We stand ready to assist where we can,” she said.
Fu also supported regional discussions on haze cooperation. She said very dry weather associated with El Nino had made the fires harder to extinguish.
Separately, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on 11 October that Malaysia was still awaiting Indonesia’s response to its offer of assistance.
Speaking to reporters in Ipoh, he said Malaysia’s National Disaster Management Agency and Foreign Ministry had written to their Indonesian counterparts.
Malaysia had offered one firefighting aircraft, three helicopters and 52 officers and personnel, Zahid said in his speech at the launch of National Preparedness Month.
