KUCHING: A total of 354 cases of open burning were recorded by the state Fire and Rescue Department from December last year to June this year.
Its director Datuk Khirudin Drahman said of the total, 218 cases involved bush, weed and grass fires.
“Meanwhile, a total of 119 cases involved open burning of garbage.
“Eight cases involved forest fires, six cases involved plantation and farm fires, and three cases involved other fires,” he said in a statement.
The zone that recorded the highest number of open burning from December last year to June this year, is Zone 4 Sibu with 111 cases, followed by Zone 6 Miri (91), and Zone 1 Kuching (77), Zone 5 Bintulu (35), Zone 2 Kota Samarahan (24), and Zone 6 Limbang (six).
For the record, Malaysia is currently in the Southwest monsoon season, which started on mid-May and is expected to last until September.
The situation has led to the lack of rain clouds formation and parts of the country will be experiencing more non-rainy days than rainy days.
Open burning has implications which can pollute the air and can cause haze that will affect the people’s health.
According to the Department of Environment (DoE) open burning is an offence under Section 29A of the Environmental Quality Act 1974.
The offence is liable to a compound of RM2,000 for each burning pile and a maximum fine of RM500,000 or maximum jail term of five years or both, if convicted.
