Indonesia, Malaysia to Handle Forest Fires Together
2/11/99
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Title: Indonesia, Malaysia to Handle Forest Fires Together
Source: Xinhua
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: February 11, 1999
JAKARTA (Feb. 12) XINHUA - In a bid to prevent devastating forest
fires from breaking out in Indonesia this year, Malaysia may provide
assistance in the form of manpower, equipment and technology.
Indonesian Coordinating Minister of People's Welfare and Poverty
Eradication Haryono Suyono and visiting Malaysian Information
Minister Datuk Mohamad Rahmat Thursday reached a "shoulder to
shoulder" agreement on dealing with fires near the two nations'
border areas.
Forest fires in Indonesia caused a toxic smoke haze over much of
Southeast Asia in late 1997 and early 1998, and renewed fires could
sour relations between the two nations.
After a meeting with Suyono, the Malaysian minister said the
discussion was "very productive" and both nations now share a good
vision for the future.
Datuk said that to prevent fires, both nations should examine their
combined assets, including manpower and equipment.
"We want to help Indonesia. We are committed to making the forests
more safe. And we hope the forest fire calamities won't happen
again", Datuk was quoted by the Indonesian Observer Friday as saying.
The minister, who coordinates efforts to overcome natural disasters
in Malaysia, said the fire issue will be seriously addressed at a
joint ministerial meeting in Kuala Lumpur in March.
Suyono expressed the hope that Indonesia would be able to overcome
any fires by usinng Malaysia's "early approach system of dealing with
looming disasters.