MALAYSIA READY TO HELP INDONESIA TACKLE FIRES

KOTA KINABALU (Malaysia), Aug 10 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Government has
reiterated its commitment to help Indonesia tackle its forest fires, in the
event of a request from the neighbouring country.

Housing and Local Government Minister Kong Cho Ha said the country was ready
to channel its manpower to Indonesia but so far, no such request was made.

He was speaking to reporters here after a working visit to the East Malaysia
state of Sabah Fire and Rescue Department headquarters here Monday.

Malaysia is experiencing a thick haze as forest fires continue to rage
across 5,300 hotspots in Indonesia -- mostly in Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra and
West Kalimantan provinces.

Kong said haze drifting from Indonesia had been the norm since 1998, between
July and September, due to wind direction.

This time around however, he noted the Peninsular was not as badly affected
as Sarawak which is recording the worst case of haze.

He said the state itself had several forest and plantation fires which
worsened the condition, where Sibu, Miri and Kuching were among cities recording
an unhealthy air pollution index (API).

"In the weeks following the haze, firefighters put out forest fires in 2,000
out of 2,560 hectares, with the worst affected being Miri," said Kong.

He said about 50 firefighters from the Sabah fire and rescue department
were, upon request, sent last Saturday to assist Sarawak fight its forest and
plantation fires.

In SIBU city, firefighters have their hands full as they battle
round-the-clock, recurring bush fires affecting thousands of hectares of
plantations and farms.

Sibu Fire and Rescue Department chief Mutalib Abdul Rahim said it was not
easy fighting fires involving large areas of peat soil.

He said the department's main concern was to prevent the fires from reaching
residential areas and the airport so as not to disrupt flight schedules.

On Sunday, bush fires caused the 400-hectare Bukit Lima Forest Park -- the
biggest in the state within a town area -- to be closed to the public.

According to the state department of environment, the town, as at 11am
Monday, continued to have the highest API in the country, at 187.
-- BERNAMA