Seeking DOE help to stop open burning

I USED to live in a very clean neighbourhood. The air was fresh and crisp and there were plenty of birds and butterflies around.

But then, and despite the annual haze, old-time residents (owners) and tenants embarked on a quest to see who did open burning more frequently and who had the biggest fire.

I used to secretly take pictures of them and send the photos to the Department of Environment (DOE). Initially, DOE officers came by and issued a warning to the culprits but after a while, they began to show indifference.

Despite the photographic evidence, they insisted that there was not enough proof and instructed me to visit their office to make an official complaint. I thought their job was to come to the ground.

I got fed up and stopped complaining for almost a year and the burning became worse. Recently, I emailed a letter to both the KL headquarters and JB office of the DOE. The email bounced back and the burning continues, even at dawn. They start burning as early as 6am because they do not want to be seen.

Many residents here are falling sick. The air is so polluted that if this continues, masks might have to be worn at all times.

It’s very easy to obtain evidence if the officers in charge at the DOE do their rounds, patrol the housing estates and look at the ground where the burning took place.

It’s one thing for people to not care for the environment but it’s another altogether when the DOE doesn’t do its job of educating and creating awareness, and patrolling housing estates with big compounds (bungalow lots and semi-detached houses). BUMBLE BEE Johor Baru