By DayakDaily Team
MIRI, Aug 13:Authorities are keeping a close watch on burning activities in Miri, deploying drones daily, including at night, to detect smoke and prevent localised haze.
In a Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) News, Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said the Department of Environment (DOE) is using drones to identify smoke and fire outbreaks at an early stage.
He added that relevant agencies have also been instructed to continue ground patrols and take immediate action whenever burning activities are detected.
“The DOE utilises drones. We fly drones to inspect and monitor areas because we do not want local haze to occur.
“Please monitor the situation daily. Even at night, drones can be deployed. If smoke is detected, immediate action must be taken,” he said at the closing ceremony of the Hands-On Programme on Standard Operating Procedures for Peatland Fire Prevention Operations under the Infrastructure Availability Project in Peatland and Other Fire-Prone Areas to Overcome Haze 2026 at the Kenyalang Convention and Exhibition Centre (KCEC) yesterday (Aug 12).
Lee said continuous monitoring is crucial for detecting burning activities before they spread and affect air quality.
However, he noted that no fire incidents linked to the current haze situation have been reported in Miri so far, based on information received from Miri Division Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) chairman and Miri Division Resident Galong Luang.
“Every day, I ask the Miri DDMC chairman whether there are any fires in Miri, and he has confirmed that there have been no reports of fires.
“This indicates that the haze affecting Miri is originating from outside the area, as prevailing winds are carrying it here,” he said.
Lee also directed the DOE, Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB), Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), and Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to step up patrols and monitoring efforts.
In addition, he urged community leaders and village chiefs to remind residents not to carry out open burning, particularly during the current dry spell.
“Our priority is prevention. We do not want fires to occur and then have to fight them. That is what we want to avoid,” he said.
As of 4pm yesterday, Miri recorded a Sarawak Air Pollution Index (API) reading of 151, placing it in the unhealthy category.
Meanwhile, the API reading in the Miri ILP area stood at 92, which falls within the moderate range.
– DayakDaily
