The Malaysian government sent the Bombardier CL 415 MP aircraft to help put out the fires."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government through its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno LP Marsudi, has praised Malaysia for its assistance in handling forest and land fires in several regions across Sumatra and Kalimantan.

"The Foreign Minister has appreciated the efforts made by the Malaysian government to tackle forest and land fires in Indonesia. The Malaysian government sent the Bombardier CL 415 MP aircraft to help put out the fires," according to a press release received here on Monday.

Indonesias Foreign Minister conveyed her countrys appreciation during her meeting with Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman at the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday (October 10).

The meeting was intended to boost bilateral cooperation in various fields and to prepare for the annual consultation meeting between the Indonesian President and the Prime Minister of Malaysia, scheduled for early 2016.

At the meeting, the Indonesian Foreign Minister stressed the seriousness with which Indonesia has been taking steps to extinguish land and forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

Indonesia has optimized the use of national assets to address land and forest fires in the two regions.

According to the minister, firm legal action will be taken against parties found responsible for these fires.

Earlier, Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo had said the government of Indonesia would welcome any foreign offer to help in battling the forest fires in the country which have caused great inconvenience in the form of thick clouds of haze, including in the neighboring countries.

"The government would welcome any offer from neighboring countries wanting to help," the minister said here on Thursday.

He expressed disappointment over criticism from some neighboring countries which blamed Indonesia for the smoke from forest fires in Sumatra or Kalimantan, blown by strong winds.

"Please do not put the blame entirely on our sovereign country. If they honestly want to help, let them please do so," he said.

Tjahjo Kumolo said the government has done whatever it could do and has taken firm measures against suspects responsible for the fire tragedy.

He said a number of oil palm plantation companies have been charged with causing these fires and some of them are owned by investors from the neighboring countries.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is currently visiting Jambi to inspect the progress made in firefighting efforts.
(Uu.A063/INE/KR-BSR/H-YH)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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