Datuk Lee Kim Shin
MIRI: Assistant Minister for Land and Air Transportation and Safety Datuk Lee Kim Shin has called on owners of undeveloped land banks to apply the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for fire prevention and suppression.
He said this is in line with the state government’s call for land owners to make it their responsibility to prevent fire outbreaks and haze from engulfing Miri during dry spells.
Four corporate land owners in Miri on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Undertaking (MoU) with Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) to implement the SOP drawn for peat fire prevention and suppression in Kuala Baram peat lands.
Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan witnessed the signing of the MoU at Pullman Hotel Miri.
The four corporate land owners are Naim Land Sdn Bhd, Shin Yang Forestry Sdn Bhd, Woodman Group of Companies and Pantai Bayu Indah Sdn Bhd.
The landmark SOP provides the guideline for landowners to prevent fire outbreaks and action plans for effective fire suppression in their respective land areas, with the MoU marking an important milestone of cooperation between the government and the corporate sector in tackling such fires in Kuala Baram.
Lee, who is Senadin assemblyman, described the MoU as a positive step forward, reflecting the determination of the state to reduce haze from local sources.
“All land owners concerned should cooperate and ensure that they comply with the SOP,” he said.
He also called on the Department of Environment (DOE) and NREB to conduct more public awareness talks and distribute pamphlets on peat land management.
Lee also supported the call by Awang Tengah for fire fighting units set up by the landowners to be given proper firefighting training.
“Bomba (Fire and Rescue Department) should also conduct training on how to fight peat fires,” he said.