KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 — The transboundary haze issue is not on the formal agenda of the 17th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting (AHMM) and Related Meetings, but it is being discussed on the sidelines among health ministers of member states.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad said the matter could subsequently be taken up at the senior officers’ meeting.

“…we (will) do a side discussion among our ministers. That one we will continue to discuss. But perhaps, in our subsequent meeting, the senior officers’ meeting can carry this through. But as an agenda, unfortunately we are not there,” he said in a press conference after the launch of ASHA 2026-2030 here today.

However, Dzulkefly said the issue could be addressed within the scope of the existing health clusters.

When asked whether Malaysia planned to hold bilateral discussions with Indonesia on the haze issue, the health minister said: “We raised it, but we must follow through again.”

Yesterday, Communications Minister and Madani Government spokesman Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said Malaysia is still awaiting confirmation from the Indonesian authorities before deploying assets that can be used to help tackle forest fires in the country, which had caused transboundary haze. — Bernama