Haze: Malaysia formally offers assistance to Indonesia; 'publicise criteria for prosecuting, withdrawing charges'

 

Forest fires

- Malaysia has formally offered Indonesia assistance to fight forest fires, including a Bombardier CL-415MP aircraft, three helicopters and 52 personnel.

Bernama reported Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he conveyed the offer to Indonesian Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka during a meeting in Jakarta today.

The personnel would be drawn from the National Disaster Management Agency, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the air force.

“The matter will be presented to President Prabowo Subianto for the Indonesian government’s approval,” Zahid said.

Zahid is on a four-day working visit to Indonesia until Sept 20 for the fifth Halal 20 Summit, where he will attend tomorrow’s opening and speak at a session on regional halal cooperation.

AirAsia

- AirAsia has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining stable operations and expanding regional connectivity amid concerns over its financial health, citing strong underlying demand despite industry-wide challenges.

Group CEO Bo Lingam (above) made the remarks as the airline highlighted Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s (KLIA) position as the world’s leading low-cost megahub in aviation data firm OAG’s 2026 Megahubs report.

The report described AirAsia as KLIA’s dominant carrier, accounting for 34 percent of flights at the airport.

AirAsia’s statement today follows a Reuters report that the government had approached Malaysia Airlines and Batik Air as part of contingency planning over AirAsia’s large domestic market share.

Its shares plunged as much as 21 percent today to their lowest level since December 2022, extending their year-to-date decline to about 70 percent. Shares in affiliate Capital A fell as much as 18 percent.

AGC

Several NGOs have called upon the Attorney-General’s Chambers to make public its guidelines on charging and discontinuance decisions, including the criteria used when seeking a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) or withdrawing charges.

This follows former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s discharge and acquittal from three money laundering charges and one abuse of power charge involving RM200 million from Bukhary Equity two days ago.

“The credibility of Malaysia's anti-corruption architecture depends on the public being able to see that prosecutorial decisions are made on consistent, disclosed criteria applied equally regardless of the accused's political standing.

“We reiterate that this is a structural problem requiring a structural remedy, and urge the government to treat the completion of (separation of) attorney-general and public prosecutor reform, in this parliamentary term, as a matter of institutional necessity rather than political convenience,” the NGOs said in a statement.

The groups that signed the statement are Projek Sama, Bersih, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas), Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) and Rasuah Busters.

Animal rights

MCA Youth has urged the authorities to conduct immediate health checks on three Malaysian elephants at Osaka’s Tennoji Zoo following concerns over Kelat’s apparent weight loss.

Its information chief Neow Choo Seong called on the Taiping Municipal Council and the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry to send an independent Malaysian veterinary team to examine Kelat, Dara and Amoi within 14 days.

Neow (above), in a statement, said it had been nearly three months since he completed a 250km solo solidarity run on June 22 to raise awareness of the elephants’ plight. The three elephants, collectively known as DAK, were transferred to Tennoji Zoo on March 11.

He said the assessment should cover their physical condition, stress levels, diet, enclosure and periods of isolation, with the findings, videos and laboratory results made public.

Neow also urged the authorities to review the agreement governing the elephants’ placement, particularly its repatriation and termination clauses. - Mkini