By Karen Bong
KUCHING, April 2: The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) has urged the public to refrain from open burning after eight fire incidents were reported across the State amid the ongoing hot and dry weather.
Deputy Premier and SDMC chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the fires were recorded in Mukah, Betong, Simunjan, Miri and Lawas in recent days, serving as an early warning as the dry season begins.
“At present, Sarawak, like other states in Malaysia, is experiencing hot and dry weather. A few days ago, we witnessed eight locations in Sarawak experiencing fires,” he said after chairing the SDMC meeting and witnessing the handing over of the upgraded Sarawak State Disaster Command Centre (SDCC) at Wisma Bapa Malaysia today.
Although all fires were successfully extinguished through coordinated efforts, Uggah stressed that the situation remains concerning, particularly in fire-prone areas such as Kuala Baram and Mukah.
He said SDMC has instructed disaster management committees at divisional and district levels to remain on high alert, especially in monitoring peatland areas where fires can spread underground and reignite.
“To the public, we ask that you avoid open burning, as it may cause fires. Sometimes people forget to extinguish fires and leave them unattended; in hot and dry conditions, fires can spread easily,” he said.
Uggah also highlighted water shortage as a second major concern during the dry spell, with authorities directed to work closely with relevant agencies to monitor affected areas and take immediate action where necessary.
He said Sarawak has requested cloud seeding operations similar to those being conducted in Peninsular Malaysia by the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), subject to suitable weather conditions.
Meanwhile, enforcement agencies including the Department of Environment (DOE) and Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) will continue monitoring hotspots and taking action against offenders involved in open burning.
Despite the recent incidents, Uggah noted that no hotspots were recorded in Sarawak as of yesterday, although authorities remain vigilant, particularly with one hotspot detected in Sumatra and potential risks from Kalimantan.
He added that the Air Pollutant Index (API) in Miri recorded the highest reading in the State but remained at a moderate level, with no areas reaching hazardous levels so far.
Among the major incidents, a peat fire in Kuala Tatau Serupai in Tatau, which began on March 23, has affected about 300 hectares. As of April 1, 288 hectares have been extinguished, with firefighting teams continuing efforts to fully contain the remaining 12 hectares and prevent reignition as of Wednesday (April 1).
Uggah urged the public to remain disciplined and report any signs of fire promptly to ensure swift response and containment.
Deputy State Secretary (Administration) Datu Felicia Tan, Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah, and NADMA director-general Meor Ismail Meor Akim were present. — DayakDaily
