Indonesia complies with ASEAN wildfire reporting protocols: FM Nasir

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3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia has met all reporting requirements on its efforts to curb forest and land fires, Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir said, amid ongoing transboundary haze across Southeast Asia.

The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) activated its highest, Level 3 alert for transboundary haze in southern Southeast Asia on August 26.

“We have shared all our operational data, including containment measures, ground conditions and ongoing developments,” Nasir said at the Parliamentary Complex in Jakarta on Thursday.

He said ASEAN’s regional framework, administered by the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (ACC THPC), sets specific reporting obligations for member states affected by transboundary haze.

“Indonesia has consistently met all reporting requirements,” he said.

Nasir said large-scale firefighting operations had helped reduce daily hotspot counts in affected provinces, despite weather conditions that continued to hamper mitigation efforts.

“The latest reports show tangible progress each day, with hotspot numbers continuing to decline. Detailed operational data are available from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB),” Nasir added.

Indonesia’s firefighting efforts have won recognition from neighboring countries. Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan praised Jakarta’s operations while expressing concern about the haze.

Malaysia nevertheless called for more decisive ground operations, citing worsening air quality that was disrupting public activities across the border.

Hasan said he would raise the haze issue at an ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting ahead of the bloc’s 49th summit in Manila in November.

Singapore has also acknowledged Indonesia’s firefighting efforts and reaffirmed its readiness to provide assistance.

Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said the city-state was ready to join regional cooperation to mitigate the effects of forest and land fires across ASEAN.