Malaysia has pledged support to Indonesia in combating ongoing forest and land fires by offering a Bombardier firefighting aircraft, three helicopters, and a team of 50 personnel. The deployment will commence pending approval from the Indonesian government, according to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The offer underscores Malaysia’s commitment to assisting its neighbor in addressing the environmental crisis that has impacted several countries in the region. Ahmad Zahid noted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is maintaining communication with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto regarding the situation. “However small our assistance may be, it is a good gesture to help our neighbour,” he said during the opening of the Road Safety Congress 2026 in Kuala Lumpur.
In addition to coordinating efforts to combat the fires, the Malaysian government is also preparing for the northeast monsoon season and associated flood risks. Ahmad Zahid highlighted ongoing collaboration between government agencies and non-governmental organizations to minimize the impact of potential flooding. He expressed hope that the severity of upcoming floods would be limited, emphasizing the role of early warning systems in facilitating timely evacuations of affected communities.
Separately, the Deputy Prime Minister addressed road safety concerns, highlighting the persistent high toll of traffic accidents in Malaysia. With an average of 18 fatalities daily and annual economic losses reaching RM30 billion, he underscored the need for measures beyond public awareness and individual accountability. Ahmad Zahid called for addressing systemic issues such as infrastructure weaknesses, enforcement lapses, and inter-agency coordination.
“We have conducted countless road safety campaigns. Awareness alone is not enough. There is an urgent need for stronger measures to improve road safety,” he remarked. He advocated for integrating technology and research to identify hazardous road segments, enhance road design, and reinforce enforcement strategies.
As chair of the Cabinet Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Congestion, Ahmad Zahid outlined the government’s goal under the Malaysia Road Safety Plan to reduce road fatalities by 50% by 2030. He indicated that the Transport Ministry and the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) have been tasked with developing a Cabinet paper recommending a nationwide, coordinated approach to expand proven motorcycle safety interventions. The proposal will include clear priorities, timelines, and measurable outcomes.
Furthermore, Ahmad Zahid proposed the establishment of an integrated national road safety intelligence platform to consolidate existing data systems. This platform aims to help agencies identify high-risk areas and coordinate interventions more effectively.
The Deputy Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of fostering partnerships across various sectors, including government bodies, employers, delivery service providers, schools, industries, and communities. He urged these stakeholders to embed road safety into daily routines, cautioning that “employers and delivery service platforms must not place speed ahead of safety,” and stressing the role of schools in instilling safe traffic habits from an early age. He concluded by acknowledging human fallibility, stating that a responsible transport system must be designed not only to discourage mistakes but also to prevent them from resulting in fatalities.