Deputy Prime MinisterMalaysia Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and host country Vice President Jusuf Kalla. (Source: nst.com.my)

On September 18, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi paid an official visit to Indonesia and held talks with the host country's Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

The visit is aimed at finding solutions to the current haze crisis in Indonesia, which is seriously affecting neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Singapore.

At the meeting, the two sides agreed to coordinate to resolve the smog crisis.

Malaysia expressed support for Indonesia in dealing with Malaysian companies found to be involved in forest fires.

Previously, on September 16, Indonesian Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Bakar said that a Malaysian company was among more than 20 businesses being investigated by the country's police for their involvement in forest fires.

In a statement on September 18, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry said the Royal Malaysian Air Force had dispatched two C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft to evacuate 173 Malaysian citizens, mostly students.

The Malaysian Consulate in Pekanbaru estimates that about 400 Malaysian citizens are currently living in Sumatra province, where air pollution is said to have exceeded "hazardous" levels.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting with Mr. Hamidi, Indonesian Vice President Kalla said that in addition to the smog issue, the two sides discussed measures to strengthen bilateral relations in socio-economic fields./.

According to VN+