Open burning worries Sipitang folks
Published on: Wednesday, September 11, 2024
By: Ahmad Apong
The fire spread to the oil palm plantation.
SIPITANG: Kampung Long Pasia residents are worried about forest burning activity which is spreading to other farms.
A resident, Jeniffer Opai, said the culprits should be careful because fire is difficult to control.
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On Friday night, a fire broke out in Kampung Samin destroying the villagers’ agricultural and palm oil fields.
“Who is responsible in this matter? The fire also threatened to spread to houses in the village,” she said.
Jeniffer said they lacked water to put out the fire and surrendered hoping it would not spread to other farms or houses.
“The fire started Friday afternoon and was still burning until midnight. Residents should be alert of this worrying incident as it might spread to homes,” she said.
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Sipitang Fire and Rescue Station Chief Calvin Joe Jeafery said open burning is an offence.
“Any party who wants to do open burning needs to inform the department and follow the procedures before burning,” he said.
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Residents are advised to keep an eye on their fields and report to the Environment Department if they come across anyone doing open burning.
Heavier fines will be imposed on those who commit open burning and can be compounded under the Open Burning under the Environmental Quality Act 1974.
Under the Environmental Quality Act 1974, there is a provision for open burning which is under the relevant Section which is Section 29A - Prohibition on open burning, Section 29AA - Not included as “open burning”, Section 29B - The owner or resident of the premises responsible for open burning and Section 29C – Defence.
Open burning as defined under Section 29A (3), Environmental Quality Act 1974 is any fire, burning or combustion which takes place in the open air and which is not directed into the open air through a flue or chimney, but does not include any fire, burning or arson that occurs for activities specified by the Minister through an order published in the Gazette.
Under the provisions of Sections 29A (1) and 29A (2) there is a ban on open burning, which means that no one can allow or cause open burning on any premises (including any land).
Any person found committing open burning, the perpetrator can be fined not more than RM 500,000 or 5 years in prison or both according to to Open Burning under the Environmental Quality Act 1974
He said under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 there are 3 orders related to open burning, namely the Environmental Quality (Delegation of Power) Order (Open Burning Investigation) 2000 and the Environmental Quality (Delegation of Power) Order (Putrajaya Corporation) 2002 In addition to the Environmental Quality (Declared Activities) (Open Burning) Order 2003.
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