By Brad Rantayy
MIRI, May 3: Small farmers, land owners and the public here have been reminded to refrain from open burning activities as this district is entering the dry and hot season.
In making this call today, Minister of Transport Sarawak Datuk Lee Kim Shin cum minister in charge of Miri Division Disaster Management Committee (MDDMC), said open burning creates the haze which will affect everybody.
“Its definitely a big no, what more during this Covid-19 pandemic.
“People with or recovering from Covid-19 might be at particularly high risk of respiratory health effects after exposure from open burning, so please, do not do any open burning activities during this coming dry season,” he said.
Lee was met after visiting three control posts set up in Kuala Baram and Senadin here today.
The posts are aimed to prevent and detect early bushfires caused by open burning.
These three control posts being manned by Rela personnel have been in operation since April 23 this year.
“Two of the posts located within Kuala Baram area, while the other one nearby Curtin University Sarawak Campus in Senadin,” Lee said.
He said, this year, they have rolled out strategic planning in preventing the recurrent bushfires within peat soil areas especially those in Kuala Baram, Senadin and Tudan covering about 8,000 hectares.
“We have learnt from the past experience in battling bushfires, and this year, we are combining technology and a conventional method to create a more effective and efficient fire management,” he opined.
This year, the Natural Resources and Environmental Board Sarawak (NREB), Miri branch is deploying drones to help monitor fire-prone areas as Miri prepares to enter the dry and hot season.
“These drones will help us to monitor open burning hotspots here,” said Lee. — DayakDaily
