Stiffer penalties for those found guilty of offence

Mohd Famey says there are those who are still stubborn and conduct open burning.

Johor Environment Department (DOE) will no longer issue RM2,000 compounds under Section 29A of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 for open burning offences this year.

Instead, all offences would be investigated further and those guilty could face a jail term of up to five years or a maximum fine of RM500,000, or both, upon conviction under the same Act, said Johor DOE director Mohd Famey Yusoff.