A TOTAL of 1,447 open burning cases were recorded in less than two months amid the transboundary haze affecting the country, particularly Sarawak, says Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup.
The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister said the open burning cases were reported between Aug 3 and Sept 29, resulting in 2,132 enforcement actions by the Department of Environment and agencies.
Among the actions taken, he added, were the issuance of 41 notices and 27 compounds, while three cases were taken to court.
He also said 14 large fires in Sarawak and Johor had been fully extinguished during the same period.
He added that seven cloud seeding operations were carried out nationwide between Aug 30 and Oct 1, including in Sarawak from Sept 3 to 7.
He noted that the National Open Burning Action Plan had been in force since Feb 15 this year.
He was responding to questions raised by Datuk Yusuf Abd Wahab (GPS-Tanjong Manis), Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (PH-Balik Pulau) and Oscar Ling Chai Yew (PH-Sibu) during Question Time.
Meanwhile, Arthur told the House that Indonesia had accepted Malaysia’s offer to assist in firefighting efforts, including aerial water bombing and the use of amphibious aircraft.
This was agreed upon following a meeting on Sept 18 between Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and President Prabowo Subianto during the former’s visit to Indonesia, he added.
Arthur said both countries were currently coordinating the deployment of assets through the Foreign Ministry.
In response to a separate question, Arthur said Malaysia would chair and host the next meeting of the sub-regional ministerial steering committee on transboundary haze next year.
He said Malaysia would use the platform to strengthen the principle of shared responsibility among Asean member states in tackling the haze.
“Transboundary haze must be tackled through collective action and closer regional cooperation, not by pointing fingers or blaming anyone.
“What matters more is that every member state carries out its own responsibilities.”
Arthur said Malaysia had also proposed, during the committee’s meeting in Bali in July, greater use of scientific data in Asean’s haze policies, including the setting up of a fund for regional fire prevention.
He added that the proposals would be discussed at the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution meeting in Vietnam this December.
