Lee (front, left) shows one of the drones that will be used to carry out surveillance over the peat areas in Miri.
MIRI: The Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) and Department of Environment (DoE) will carry out daily surveillance using drones to monitor the peat areas here that are prone to fire, in view of the current dry spell.
This was revealed by state Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin following a site visit to the Tudan Watchtower near here yesterday.
The Senadin assemblyman said he had received several reports about minor open-burning
activities, said to have caused small fire outbreaks in Kuala Baram last week.
“These small fire incidents were caused by some farmers conducting open-burning activities for agriculture purpose.
“As it is anticipated that there would be dry spells in the coming months, I’m concerned that such open burning activities would only start peat fires and contribute haze to the city,” he said in a statement.
Lee said his visit to the watchtower was to work out some immediate preventive measures meant to tackle the fire issues affecting the peat areas.
He wanted the agencies concerned to kick off their immediate preparations to address open-burning issues in fire-prone areas, especially in Kuala Baram, Tudan and Permyjaya, which cover a large part of peat areas in Miri.
He said the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) had already stationed its personnel at Tudan Watchtower to monitor and alert the relevant agencies about any open-burning activity and peat fire incident occurring in the surrounding areas.
Joining Lee on his visit were acting Miri Resident Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusuf, Fire and Rescue Department Miri chief Supt Law Poh Kiong, as well as representatives from DoE Miri, NREB Miri, Miri City
Council, Miri District Office and Rela Miri.