PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will only render its assistance to tackle the bushfire crisis in Australia based on conditions set by the latter.
National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) director-general Datuk Mohtar Mohd Abd Rahman said the agency had engaged the Australian government on the assistance to provide.
“The type of assistance remains at the request of their government and our capabilities. We have yet to receive a reply from Australia,” Mohtar said yesterday.
On Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said Malaysia was prepared to assist Australia, including the deployment of Nadma personnel and the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team, to help put out bushfires in the country.
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Darell Leiking said Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation countries must reach a consensus on initiatives to address natural disasters.
He said such an approach was all the more necessary given the bushfires raging in Australia.