By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 16: Indonesia has stepped up forest and land fire prevention and firefighting efforts amid concerns over the air quality in Sarawak, with its Kuching consulate stressing that both countries share responsibility for tackling the haze.
The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in Kuching said Indonesia was carrying out ‘comprehensive, relentless, and proactive’ measures to prevent and extinguish forest and land fires in affected areas.
The measures include intensified early-warning patrols, rapid deployment of ground firefighting teams, continuous water-bombing operations, cloud-seeding exercises, and stricter enforcement against illegal burning.
“These integrated actions are undertaken around the clock to safeguard communities, protect ecosystems, and mitigate potential fire impacts,” KJRI Kuching said in a statement.
The consulate acknowledged concerns raised by Sarawakians over recent air-quality developments, describing Indonesia and Sarawak as close neighbours linked by shared borders and longstanding bilateral ties.
The statement also highlighted regional cooperation under the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, saying it maintained continued communication and information-sharing with Sarawak authorities and other stakeholders.
According to KJRI Kuching, the cooperation aims to strengthen joint preventive measures, improve regional coordination, and minimise the potential environmental and socio-economic impact of transboundary haze.
The consulate said it was continuing to monitor developments and coordinate with relevant Sarawak authorities and stakeholders.
It expressed hope that the intensified measures would quickly improve conditions so that air quality and daily activities in Sarawak and surrounding areas could return to normal. — DayakDaily
