Reporter
Bardjan
October 10, 2026 | 08:40 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Indonesian officials have welcomed offers of assistance from Singapore and Malaysia to fight forest and land fires that have spread haze across Southeast Asia, as a disaster management official said ground personnel could be more effective than helicopters in some areas.
National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) acting spokesman Berton Panjaitan told The Straits Times on October 10 that firefighters on the ground would be preferable to aircraft because of poor visibility.
“The problem is that even if aircraft are provided, for example helicopters, visibility is very low,” he said. “So, if you ask us, I think it would be better to have personnel on the ground rather than helicopters.”
Berton stressed that his comments reflected his personal assessment of the most useful form of assistance, not an official request for international support.
The BNPB was not involved in negotiations over foreign assistance, which were handled by other government ministries, he added.
Forestry Ministry spokesman Ristianto Pribadi said on October 10 that the ministry appreciated Singapore and Malaysia’s willingness to help contain the fires.
“The Ministry of Forestry appreciates the concern and readiness of Malaysia and Singapore to assist in tackling forest and land fires. We regard their willingness to help as a demonstration of friendship and the spirit of regional cooperation to protect communities from the impact of forest and land fires and haze,” he told The Straits Times.
Ristianto said the Forestry Ministry was prepared to support technical coordination within its authority and in line with operational needs. He added that international cooperation was coordinated through Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry.
Neither Berton nor Ristianto could confirm whether Indonesia had formally accepted Singapore’s offer.
Deputy Forestry Minister Rohmat Marzuki said on October 9 that President Prabowo Subianto had communicated with leaders of friendly countries, particularly Singapore and Malaysia, to strengthen cooperation in tackling the fires.
“The President has communicated with the leaders of friendly countries, particularly Malaysia and Singapore, to jointly strengthen cooperation in tackling forest and land fires,” Rohmat told reporters at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, without providing further details.
Singapore and Malaysia have offered assistance as fires in Indonesia worsen air quality in parts of the region.
Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said on October 10 that she had contacted her Indonesian counterpart, Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat, to offer support and acknowledge Indonesia’s efforts to contain the fires.
“We are aware that efforts are going on. We stand ready to assist where we can,” she told reporters at Our Tampines Hub.
According to Channel News Asia, Singapore’s 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reached 192 in central Singapore at 6 p.m. on October 9, its highest reading so far in 2026. The reading was close to the very unhealthy range, which begins at 201.
The haze has also raised concerns about air quality during the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, held from October 9 to 11 at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on October 8 that he had spoken by telephone with Prabowo about the haze and that the Indonesian president had agreed to take steps to address the problem, according to Malaysia’s national news agency Bernama.
Anwar said Malaysia had been offering assistance for several weeks and had instructed his foreign and environment ministers to contact their Indonesian counterparts.
Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said on October 7 that Prabowo had accepted Malaysia’s offer of firefighting assistance. However, the two countries were still discussing where and how Malaysian personnel would be deployed, Bernama reported.
Read: Singapore Ready to Assist Indonesia in Fighting Forest Fires, Haze
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