KANDAU SIDI New Straits Times 12 May 19;
MIRI: Irresponsible pineapple farmers, conducting open burning in the Vista Perdana and Desa Bahagia areas, have been identified as the culprits behind the haze problem plaguing southern Sarawak.
Assistant Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin said the farmers had apparently ignored the dry weather notices issued earlier to warn local plantation owners against such activity.
The haze was said to have engulfed several housing areas nearby with some residents claiming to have fallen ill.
"Some residents called me at 3am in the morning, complaining they could not sleep due to the thick smoke.
"I have instructed the relevant authorities to investigate and carry out necessary actions against the culprits," he said when contacted today.
The Senadin assemblyman also urged authorities to intensify efforts to monitor the situation on the ground to avoid more open burning.
"Apart from Natural Disaster Management Committee and Fire and Rescue Department, the Agriculture Department must also inform and tell the farmers not to conduct open burning which can lead to serious and uncontrollable forest fires.
Meanwhile, Miri Fire and Rescue Department chief Law Poh Kiong said firefighters had been deployed to the pineapple farms to control the fire.
"It's a challenging task due to limited road access, water resources and large peat soil areas." he said.
"But we are trying our best to douse the flames." he added.
Forest fires, haze in Sarawak due to weak enforcement
KANDAU SIDI New Straits Times 14 May 19;
MIRI: The forest fires that resulted in serious haze in northern part of Sarawak, especially in Miri, have been due to a weak enforcement.
Sarawak’s DAP secretary Alan Ling Sie Kiong said the forest fires that occurred in the state are repeating every year, when the dry season comes.
He said government agencies such as the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) and the Environment Department should enforce stricter rules against those who conducted open burning activities.
“If there’s no stern action taken against those culprits, the issue will not end as they won’t bother much. That’s why the open burning problem couldn’t resolve over the years.
“The government must be firm in addressing this issue as it affects the health of the public,” he said when contacted today.
Ling said the forest fires that occurred in the Vista Perdana and Senadin residential areas were due to agricultural activities.
“It could be avoided if there’s strong enforcement monitoring on the ground, while residents should be responsible as well,” he added.
Meanwhile, Miri fire and rescue chief Law Poh Kiong said the open burnings were usually carried out in the late evening and night time.
“In the past few days, they would begin (open) burning between 8pm and 10pm and caused the Air Pollutant Index (API) to rise at 11pm,” he said.
However, the downpour in the morning has doused the forest fire and the air quality has improved.
