KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Malaysia is deploying its aircraft assets to help Indonesia put out fires in Palembang and South Sumatra, the country's Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said on Thursday (Oct 8).

Datuk Seri Hishammuddin said the decision was made after the president of Indonesia requested help through the Malaysian Prime Minister to put out the fires that have led to smoke blanketing parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

"I have contacted my counterpart Ryamizard Ryacudu and Indonesia's foreign minister Retno Marsudi," he said. The Malaysian Government will deploy an amphibious plane Bombardier CL415MP for the mission," said Hishammuddin.

"He added that the aircraft is able to drop 6,137 litres of water in 12 seconds while flying at the speed of 130kmh.

The operation, which will be coordinated between the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), will see water dropped at affected areas as determined by the Indonesian authorities.