BALVIN KAUR New Straits Times 5 Mar 19;
GEORGE TOWN: Environmental activists are warning that more forest fires are likely to flare up over the next two months, before the El Nino phenomenon ends.
Malaysian Nature Society Penang branch adviser D. Kanda Kumar said the state had been plagued by forest fires for decades, but the situation appeared to be getting worse now.
“This could be due to the changes in the weather and the El Nino phenomenon,” he told New Straits Times today.
It was reported that more than 3,000 incidences of open burning were reported nationwide last night, almost doubling the number of cases in January.
The state Fire and Rescue Department yesterday spent hours battling a fire on an inaccessible and steep hill slope in Jalan Ladang Hong Seng here.
The fire is believed to have been sparked by the hot and dry weather.
Experts have warned that the hot season would last until the end of April, with temperatures hitting 38°C.
The fires have caused the air quality to deteriorate.
The Air Quality Index reading at Universiti Sains Malaysia here this afternoon registered a moderate level of 62.
The air quality is considered good if it is between 0 and 50, moderate between 51 to 100, unhealthy at 101 to 150, unhealthy at 151 to 200, very unhealthy at 201 to 300 and hazardous at 301 to 500.
Kanda said the main thing was to find out whether the fires were due to natural causes or ignited by people.
“Most of fires in Penang are caused by small sparks from a cigarette or illegal burning of rubbish.
“So, the government and its departments must come down hard on these people who are causing the fires.” He said with rampant development eating up the state’s green areas, the government must ensure that the few remaining green lungs were protected.
“Fires are not only a hazard to people but also cause destruction of natural habitat.”
Sahabat Alam Malaysia president S.M. Mohamed Idris, who concurred with Kanda, said the government should also boost public awareness of the dangers of open burning.
“We must take preventative steps and not wait for disasters to happen,” he added.
State Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the fires in the state could be attributed to the El Nino phenomenon, which would only end in April.
“Our volunteer fire service has gone into overdrive putting out the many fires throughout the state.
“The fires are mostly occurring in grassland areas, but we had one taking place in a jungle and another in a dumpsite,” he said, adding that strong winds was not helping matters.
“We are asking the people to stop lighting open fires as a small spark can cause huge damage in this weather.”
Phee said the state executive council would be discussing proactive steps to prevent open burning.
