‘Open burning a real threat to health if not controlled’
MIRI: Open burning activities now occurring at the outskirts of Miri and in Sibuti are a threat to the people’s health if not monitored and controlled by the authorities concerned.
PKR Women National exco committee member Zulhaidah Suboh said the present (open burning) situation at various locations here and in Sibuti was interfering with the daily life of the people, and had to be controlled if not eliminated all together.
“Places along the roads to Kuala Baram, Tudan, and Pujut are among the worst affected areas. Tough enforcement and higher compounds should be issued to companies or individuals found to have started the fire,” Zulhaidah said when contacted yesterday.
She added that low visibility due to the haze in the morning was a cause for concern among drivers here because accidents might happen if one were not careful.
Air pollution is another cause for concern. People with health problem such as respiratoryrelated illness and the elderly are prone to attack during this time.
Zulhaidah, who is also PKR Sibuti women chief, said the haze, together with the hot and dry weather and bush fires in Sarawak now, was making life very difficult for the people especially those who had to work outside
She thus urged the people to work together with the Department of Environment to monitor these unhealthy activities so that appropriate action could be taken to minimise the effect.
To the landowners, she urged them to keep track of their idle land to make sure no open burning or bush fires occurred in such land.