Indonesia's Response to Haze Crisis: Defending Efforts Amidst Malaysian Pressure

Indonesia's environment minister defended the country's efforts to combat forest fires and haze, stating that they are using water bombing from helicopters and cloud seeding to control the fires. Malaysia had urged Indonesia and other Southeast Asian nations to take action against the worsening air quality caused by slash-and-burn land clearing for plantations. However, the Indonesian minister denied that hazardous haze was crossing borders and stated that no haze has been detected heading towards Malaysia. Forest fires are reportedly on the decline in Sumatra and Borneo. ASEAN members have pledged to phase out crop burning and take collective action to minimize its adverse environmental and health impacts.