Ministry investigating bushfires in Miri

0

KUCHING: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is preparing investigation papers under Section 29A of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 on the bushfires in Miri.

Minister Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said his ministry viewed the issue very seriously and warned plantation owners as well as individuals involved in farming to stop open burning.

“Notices have been issued by the Department of Environment to six developers, companies or individuals with interests on peat soil areas to prevent fire at their respective lands.

“We have also activated monitoring by Rela (People’s Volunteer Corps) members at observation towers since Feb 15,” he said in a statement.

He said Agro Farm Plantation had constructed a fire break to stop the spread of forest fires in neighbouring Brunei.

“The Air Pollutant Index (API) reading in Miri city is influenced by the wind movements, blowing smoke from the forest fires in Brunei, Bekenu and Niah towards the sea,” he said.

Wan Junaidi added that the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), with the help of Naim Holdings Bhd, managed to stop most of the fires on Friday, which saw the burning of some 200 acres of forest in Marudi and another 2km of forest areas in Bekenu and Niah near several longhouses and villages.

“It is believed that the forest fires in Marudi, Bekenu and Niah were due to subsistence activities of the local residents,” he said.

Yesterday, The Borneo Post reported that bush fires in peat soil areas coupled with the dry spell caused Miri city to be among the two areas in the country that recorded unhealthy API readings on Friday.