Fires destroying oil palm, rubber in K’gau
Published on: Thursday, March 21, 2019
By: Mail Mathew
KENINGAU: Residents in several villages here have appealed to the government, especially the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, to go down to the field to monitor the destruction of crops by fires since Mar 16.
The affected villages were Kg Tuntumulud, Kg Buang Sayang and forest areas in Kg Bunuyon, Kg Tambalang Libas and Kg Ulu Bunsit.
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A resident, Julian F Lian @ Mohd Hafiz , said the fire this time is worst as it has destroyed rubber, oil palm and other crops.
He said residents with help from the Community Neighbourhood Watch scrambled to douse the fire using sprayer pumps and water buckets but could put it out for good.
He said firefighters had to be called in to assist them but the team could only control the fire in low lying areas as it could be reached by road.
“Fire continues to devastate forested areas and we believe it will reach the Crocker Range area if it is not addressed,” he added.
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To this, the Pertubuhan Bertindak Alam Sekitar (Bertindak) Sabah is appealing with urgency for cooperation from the government particularly Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew to intervene and take action.
“We propose the spraying of chemicals from the air using helicopter to extinguish the fire like what is done in other countries like Australia when they are faced with major fires.
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The State Government was reported to be considering cloud seeding since the current dry spell may stretch till June.
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