Cases of open burning are on the rise once again amid the current dry spell caused by the Southwest Monsoon season, said the Department of Environment (DOE).
The department said it has detected 418 such cases so far this month, up to July 22.
“This number is expected to rise if the hot and dry weather persists into mid-September 2021,” its director-general Norlin Jaafar said in a statement last night.
These cases had been detected by its patrols and through public complaints.
Meanwhile, 16 hotspots have been detected by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre’s (ASMC) satellite monitoring – nine in Sabah, three in Pahang, two in Selangor, one in Perak, and one in Johor.
Over in Indonesia, the ASMC detected 37 hotspots in Sumatra and six in Kalimantan.
In response, the DOE said it has issued 358 compounds, 72 warning notices, and opened nine investigation papers against open burnings under Section 29A of the Environmental Quality Act 1974.
If convicted, an offence under Section 29A is punishable with up to RM500,000 fine, or five years imprisonment, or both. A compound of RM2,000 may also be imposed for each offence.
Norlin said the DOE is stepping up on measures to prevent open burnings in response to the dry season.
In addition, to further preserve air quality, it is also intensifying its enforcement activities against factories and motor vehicles.
Members of the public are urged to report cases of pollution to the department through its toll-free line 1-800-88-2727 or its website. - Mkini
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