Penguang instructs local councils to curb backyard burning

SIBU: All local councils in the state and the relevant enforcement agencies are expected to work toward ensuring a clean and sustainable environment.

Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil said one of the issues they must look into seriously is backyard burning as it could contribute to air pollution.

He said this when was asked if local councils had been instructed to stop open burning or backyard burning in view of the prevailing dry weather.

“Open backyard burning i s prohibi ted under both the Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance and the Local Authorities Ordinance....

Open backyard burning is prohibited under both the Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance and the Local Authorities Ordinance.

Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, Assistant Minister of Local Government

as doing otherwise will not only help to contribute to the pollution of the air/environment but at the same time cause a lot of nuisance or inconveniences to their neighbours.”

Meanwhile, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar reportedly cautioned the public against open burning during the current hot spell.

Based on the report by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre ( ASMC) issued Sunday, there were two hotspots detected in the country, namely in Pahang and Terengganu.

Sibu Rural District Council ( SRDC) chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai, on the other hand, said open burning is under the Public Nuisance By- Law, and offenders could be compounded.

Advising residents to refrain from open burning in their backyards, he said open burning would also create nuisance for the neighbourhood.

SIBU: Natural Resources and Environment Board ( NREB) is still giving out open burning permit, but on a case-by- case basis depending on the weather forecast.

This was disclosed by NREB controller Peter Sawal.

He was asked yesterday if the board had stopped the issuance of open permit in view of the prevailing dry weather.

NOAA satellite on May 6 detected three hotspots in Kalimantan.

Meanwhile, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dato Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has cautioned the public not to conduct open burning during the current hot spell, which has hit several areas in the country.

Open burning without permit from NREB in the state is an offence.

Pursuant to the Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance (NREO), 1993:

Section 30(1)( a) — Any person who carries out or causes or permits to be carried out open burning of refuse or other combustible materials on any land without written permission of the Controller shall be guilty of an offence: Penalty — A fine of twenty thousand ringgit ( RM20,000) and imprisonment for three ( 3) years.

Section 30( 2) — Any person who, without the written permission of the Controller, cuts, destroys and burns vegetation in any area which is not Native Customary Land, shall be guilty of an offence: Penalty — A fine of thirty thousand ringgit ( RM30,000) and imprisonment for three ( 3) years.

Written applications have to be made to the NREB using Open Burning Permit Application Form obtainable from all NREB offices and their website. Issuance of permit will be suspended during the dry season to avoid occurrence of haze.