Malaysia to raise haze at ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting as Indonesia fights fires
Malaysia's foreign minister says he will personally raise transboundary haze with ASEAN counterparts, arguing existing disaster mechanisms don't cover it, while Indonesia struggles to fight fires in thick smoke.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said on Monday 12 October that Malaysia will raise transboundary haze at an ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting, seeking stronger regional mechanisms against smoke from forest fires in Indonesia. Anadolu AgencyN “Malaysia will raise the worsening transboundary haze crisis at an upcoming ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ CNAN “Malaysia will raise the issue of transboundary haze at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers’ meeting in Manila next month” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 2He said ASEAN has a mechanism for natural disasters but haze is not included or classified as a natural disaster, and that he would personally raise it with counterparts. CNAN ““So this will be one of the issues that I will personally raise at the meeting with my counterparts.”” Read at CNA ↗ Anadolu AgencyN ““We already have an ASEAN mechanism for natural disasters, but haze is not included or classified as a natural disaster,”” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 2Philippine foreign ministry spokesperson Dominic Xavier Imperial confirmed on Tuesday that haze is on the agenda of the preparatory foreign ministers' meeting ahead of the ASEAN summit; Anadolu says the summit, the 49th, is in Manila next month. CNAN ““It’s on the agenda,” he said.” Read at CNA ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “The issue will be discussed ahead of the 49th ASEAN Summit in Manila next month” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Centre · 1Anadolu, citing Mohamad, reports Indonesia has deployed about 60,000 personnel, but thick smoke has severely restricted aerial firefighting. Anadolu AgencyN “Indonesia has deployed about 60,000 personnel to fight the fires, but thick smoke has severely restricted aerial firefighting operations” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 2Mohamad said Indonesian counterpart Arrmanatha Nasir told him visibility was too poor for aircraft to fly; the outlets differ on the numbers, Anadolu reporting 34 airplanes and 34 helicopters grounded and CNA quoting three to four airplanes and 34 helicopters. Anadolu AgencyN “34 airplanes and 34 helicopters were unable to operate because of poor visibility” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ CNAN “Indonesia has between three to four airplanes and 34 helicopters, but they cannot take off” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 1Anadolu adds that remote burning areas, limited water and persistent underground peat fires hamper efforts, and that cloud seeding is impossible for lack of suitable clouds. Anadolu AgencyN “Mohamad said cloud-seeding operations were currently impossible because suitable rain-bearing clouds were unavailable.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Centre · 1Mohamad acknowledged Indonesia's efforts and expressed sympathy but urged more effective action given the impact on the public. CNAN “The Malaysian foreign minister acknowledged Indonesia’s efforts to extinguish the fires and expressed sympathy for the challenges it faced.” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 1CNA reports the fires, mainly on Sumatra and Borneo, are Indonesia's most intense in 11 years and have caused haze over Singapore and Malaysia, a spike in respiratory conditions and school closures in parts of Malaysia including Johor. CNAN “The wildfires, mainly on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, are Indonesia’s most intense in 11 years.” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 1Separately, Malaysian Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Arthur Joseph Kurup told parliament that any haze legislation must weigh effectiveness, diplomatic implications, burden of proof and enforceability, and President Prabowo Subianto ordered stepped-up firefighting focused on Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra. CNAN “any proposed legislation to tackle transboundary haze must consider several factors, including its effectiveness, diplomatic implications, burden of proof, and enforceability.”“Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto ordered firefighting efforts to be stepped up, with operations focused on Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra provinces.” Read at CNA ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both centre outlets report Malaysia's diplomatic push on haze largely through Mohamad Hasan's remarks, with sympathy for Indonesia's firefighting difficulties alongside calls for more effective action.
- Emphasis
- Anadolu stresses Indonesia's firefighting scale and obstacles; CNA stresses the ASEAN agenda, health and school impacts, and Malaysian legislative caution.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Anadolu omits the Philippine confirmation, health impacts and the legislation comments; CNA omits the 60,000 personnel, cloud-seeding and peat-fire details.
- Charged language
- “haze crisis”
- For example
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“seeking stronger regional mechanisms to tackle pollution from forest fires in neighboring Indonesia” — Anadolu Agency
“causing a spike in respiratory conditions across the three countries” — CNA
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Malaysia will raise transboundary haze at an ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting ahead of the summit in Manila.
- Mohamad Hasan said haze is not classified as a natural disaster under ASEAN mechanisms.
- Poor visibility is preventing Indonesian aircraft from fighting the fires.
Where accounts differ
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Number of Indonesian aircraft grounded
- Centre
- Anadolu: 34 airplanes and 34 helicopters; CNA: three to four airplanes and 34 helicopters.
Malaysia place
Malaysia, through its foreign minister, wants haze treated under stronger ASEAN mechanisms and will raise it personally, while urging Indonesia to act more effectively.
“he also urged Indonesia to take more effective measures, given the impact of the haze on the public.” — CNA
Indonesia place
Indonesia, as relayed by Malaysia's minister, says poor visibility is grounding aircraft; President Prabowo ordered firefighting stepped up.
“Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto ordered firefighting efforts to be stepped up” — CNA
Association of Southeast Asian Nations organisation
ASEAN's existing disaster mechanism does not classify haze as a natural disaster, per Malaysia; the Philippines confirmed haze is on the meeting agenda.
““It’s on the agenda,” he said.” — CNA
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Malaysia to raise transboundary haze crisis at ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting
Neutral Wire-style account led by Indonesia's 60,000 personnel and grounded aircraft, relaying Mohamad's remarks.
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CNAN ·
Neutral Leads with Mohamad's quote on ASEAN mechanisms, adding Philippine confirmation, health impacts and Malaysian legislative comments.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 12 Oct 14:13 First Anadolu AgencyN Malaysia to raise transboundary haze crisis at ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting
- 13 Oct 05:47 +15h 33m CNAN Malaysia to raise transboundary haze issue at ASEAN meeting, says existing disaster mechanisms do not cover it
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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