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Malaysia, Indonesia agree on method to combat forest fires

Asian Economic News, Jan 15, 2001

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 8 Kyodo

Malaysia and Indonesia on Monday agreed on a standard operating procedure to combat forest fires that have enveloped the Southeast Asia region with thick smog in the past.

The two countries finally signed a document on bilateral cooperation and disaster relief, three years after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the issue.

The MOU was signed in December 1997 after open burning of farm lands and forest fires in Indonesia caused the worst haze phenomenon in the region. At one point, schools had to be closed and people were forced to wear air-filtering masks.

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The document signed Monday covers aspects related to training and operations, exchange of information and exchange of personnel in the handling and prevention of disasters.

Malaysia's National Security Division director general, Jaafar Ismail, signed the document along with Indonesian Vice Presidential Secretary Bambang Kesowo, who is also the National Coordination Disaster Management Body secretary.

The signing ceremony was held in conjunction with the three-day visit by Indonesian Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri to Malaysia, her first since assuming the post in October 1999.

Megawati, who arrived Sunday, held talks with Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Monday.

Abdullah told Megawati to boost Indonesia's image in order to attract more investors while giving his assurance that Malaysia is still keen to invest there, Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said, according to official news agency Bernama.

''But Indonesia must be able to project a situation that would create confidence and create an environment in which people can do business. And Megawati has given an assurance to tackle this problem because she has been entrusted to bring investments to Indonesia,'' Syed Hamid was quoted as saying.

Malaysia's two-way trade with Indonesia for the first 10 months of last year exceeded 12 billion ringgit ($3.1 billion), with the balance in Indonesia's favor.

Syed Hamid said the two leaders also discussed the issue of illegal Indonesian immigrants. Unofficial figures put the number of Indonesians working in Malaysia at almost 1 million, with half of them coming in illegally.

While Abdullah complained about the burden of the high number of illegal workers, Megawati wanted Malaysia to take in more Indonesian workers and give Indonesians more places at local universities, especially on information technology courses.

But Syed Hamid said Megawati agreed to look into a ''suitable structure'' to help stem the influx of illegal immigrants.

Megawati will depart for Singapore early Tuesday.

Malaysia, Indonesia agree on method to combat forest fires

Asian Economic News, Jan 15, 2001

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