JAKARTA, thekabarnews.com—Indonesia is reviewing Malaysia’s offer to deploy two aircraft and 44 personnel to support efforts against forest and land fires (karhutla), with technical talks expected to determine whether the proposed assistance matches operational needs.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) head Lt. Gen. Kristomei Sianturi discussed the offer with the Malaysian Ambassador-designate to Indonesia, Muzafar Shah Mustafa, at BNPB headquarters in Jakarta on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

The proposed package comprises one CL-415MP amphibious firefighting aircraft and one Mi-171 helicopter. Malaysia has also offered 44 flight crew members and technicians.

BNPB said the aircraft had not yet been deployed. The agency will assess field conditions before the Indonesian government decides how to proceed.

“The proposed assistance will be assessed further to ensure it meets operational requirements and actual conditions on the ground,” acting BNPB spokesperson Berton Panjaitan said, according to a statement published by BNPB.

BNPB plans to coordinate with Malaysia’s National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA). Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry will facilitate the discussions.

Officials will review logistical requirements and deployment readiness. They will also examine aviation safety procedures and alternative forms of support if dense smoke or poor visibility prevents aircraft from operating safely.

Indonesia has already mobilized extensive resources to fight fires through ground operations, helicopter water bombing and weather-modification operations coordinated with the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

As of Oct. 25, the government had deployed 71,878 ground personnel and 63 aircraft. The aerial fleet comprised 39 water-bombing helicopters and 24 aircraft assigned to patrols and weather-modification missions.

A BNPB operational update identified Central Kalimantan, South Sumatra, Jambi, South Kalimantan, West Kalimantan and Riau as six priority provinces. Firefighting operations have also extended to areas outside those provinces.

Malaysia had previously announced a broader prospective package involving a CL-415MP, three helicopters and about 50 personnel. The latest talks at BNPB focused on the more specific proposal of two aircraft and 44 personnel, suggesting that both governments are refining the offer before any deployment.

“However small our assistance may be, it is a meaningful gesture to help our closest neighbor,” Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Oct. 19.

Malaysia previously sent a CL-415MP to South Sumatra in 2015. The aircraft dropped 546,000 liters of water during a five-day operation, according to NADMA.

Beyond aircraft support, BNPB and Malaysia are exploring cooperation in early-warning systems and fire detection. The proposed partnership also covers data analysis, affected-area assessments, firefighting research and personnel training.

Any international assistance must comply with Indonesian disaster-management regulations. BNPB said Indonesia would retain operational control throughout the mission.

The technical review will determine whether Malaysia’s aircraft can add practical capacity to Indonesia’s existing fleet. Longer-term cooperation on detection and data sharing could also help both countries respond earlier to fires that create transboundary haze.