KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Malaysia will not pressure Indonesia over the worsening haze as it has shown its commitment to tackle the problem, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid said it was not fair to blame Indonesia on the issue as Indonesian leaders had already asked for assistance from neighbouring countries to fight the raging fires in Sumatra.

"It is not fair for us to blame Indonesia. Instead we have to assist them to overcome this problem which is a transboundary problem," Dr Ahamd Zahid told a press conference at the Putrajaya International Security Dialogue here on Thursday (Oct 22).

Dr Ahmad Zahid added that he had personally given his suggestion on how to tackle the fires to Indonesian leaders.

The haze, which has led to air quality reaching very unhealthy levels in the peninsula, was caused by widespread clearing of oil palm plantations in Indonesia.

It had enveloped most of the southern parts of the peninsula earlier, but on Wednesday seemed to have moved north.