JAKARTA: Indonesia will not declare its prolonged forest and land fires a national disaster for now, saying it remains capable of managing the crisis despite concerns over transboundary haze affecting neighbouring countries, including Malaysia.
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman said the decision was made at a limited cabinet meeting chaired by President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace here on Monday.
"Not yet, not yet. We are still capable of handling it," he told reporters after the meeting.
Dudung said offers of international assistance were not discussed, although he acknowledged concerns from neighbouring countries over the haze.
