The Department of Environment took 3,433 enforcement actions against open burning from August to October, as Malaysia stepped up efforts to tackle the haze.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Environment (DOE) took 3,433 enforcement actions against open burning between August and October as authorities intensified efforts to tackle the worsening haze affecting Malaysia.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said the government maintained a zero-tolerance approach towards open burning, adding that all 14 large-scale forest fires recorded in several states, including Sarawak and Johor, had been extinguished.
“From August to October alone, DOE took 3,433 enforcement actions against incidents of open burning.
“During the southwest monsoon, we saw several forest fires in states such as Sarawak and Johor.
“There were 14 large-scale fires, but through cooperation between our agencies, all 14 were successfully extinguished. This shows that our domestic measures have been very effective,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
However, Arthur acknowledged that the government’s overall efforts to address the haze had yet to meet public expectations, despite preventive measures introduced earlier this year.
“Action began before the haze became increasingly serious, but I acknowledge that the results have not yet met the expectations of the people.
“It is difficult to predict how high the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings will reach when fires occur under extreme weather conditions,” he said.
He was responding to a supplementary question from Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PN-Kuala Krai), who sought details of enforcement action against open burning and measures taken to address transboundary haze.
Arthur said the government had anticipated an increased risk of haze since the beginning of the year due to changing weather conditions, including the transition towards El Niño.
He warned that reduced rainfall and rising surface temperatures could increase the number of hotspots, with more than 1,000 recorded across Sumatra and Kalimantan in recent months.
“Extreme weather associated with El Niño is expected to bring significant consequences, including a sharp reduction in rainfall and rising surface temperatures.
“This will lead to an increase in hotspots,” he said.
Arthur said the National Open Burning Action Plan was activated in February, followed by a meeting of the National Haze and Dry Weather Main Committee on June 15 to strengthen preparedness among relevant agencies.
He added that the DOE had been developing fire prevention infrastructure nationwide since December last year, including 570 drainage blocks, 107 tube wells and 15 retention ponds.
Another 111 groundwater-level monitoring instruments, known as piezometers, and six observation towers would also be provided to strengthen efforts to prevent peatland and underground fires.
“This means we are taking proactive and preventive measures, rather than merely reacting when incidents occur,” he said.
On regional cooperation, Arthur said he had met his Indonesian counterpart on July 8, ahead of an ASEAN ministerial meeting the following day, to discuss haze-related concerns.
Diplomatic engagement continued through August and September, including further discussions and formal offers of assistance to neighbouring authorities.