JAKARTA, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- The use of airplane for sprinkling water and helicopter for cloud seeding was tried again Friday to reduce the haze in the Klang Valley after a similar attempt was postponed Thursday due poor visibility.

The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis said the attempt was tried again Friday after the plane could not take off Thursday due to thick smoke and poor weather.

Thanking Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for making available a fire department helicopter, he said the cloud seeding attempt would be carried out again Friday.

Speaking to reporters here, he said however that he had not yet received feedback on the attempt Friday.

Dr Jamaluddin was here to attend the 11th Meeting of the Asean Ministers of Science and Technology which started Thursday. The Minister said he also discussed the haze situation with the ministers from other Asean countries and they said they were prepared to assist in overcoming the problem.

Jamaluddin said several of the countries had agreed to send airplanes or helicopters for the purpose.

He said in Malaysia the haze was regarded as a tragedy because it disrupted schooling and universities which had to be closed while many people could not work.

Malaysia would discuss with Indonesia the co-operation between them to overcome the haze problem in a meeting Saturday, he said, adding that both sides were aware of the agreement on the issue between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The top leaders of both countries were reported to have discussed the situation through telephone and agreed to co-operate to overcome the haze which originated from the burning of forests and peat soil in Indonesia.