Forca-NREB discussion tackles air quality concerns in Bintulu

BINTULU (Feb 7): Bintulu’s rapid industrial growth has brought abundant employment opportunities and economic benefits to the local community, said Datuk Kong Kung Kwong.

However, the Federation of Registered Chinese Associations (Forca) Bintulu president said he acknowledged that air quality remains a top concern for residents despite the industrial boom.

“In recent years, the Air Pollution Index (API) in Bintulu has generally hovered at a moderate level.

“Most of the public, however, do not fully understand the technical data and are more concerned about whether these changes are normal and safe,” he said during a dialogue session between Forca Bintulu and the Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) held at Wisma Huazong Forca Bintulu on Friday.

Kong expressed his appreciation for the face-to-face dialogue, emphasising that direct communication is crucial for residents to better understand air quality issues.

“Based on online data, fluctuations in air quality in Bintulu are relatively minor.

“Compared to Kuching and Miri, Bintulu maintains more stable and generally better levels most of the time,” he said.

He added that ‘moderate’ indicates light pollution that does not significantly affect the health of the majority of people.

Still, residents are keen to understand how standards defining ‘no significant effect’ are determined, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses.

“Many residents judge air quality based on physical sensations rather than technical data, so the term ‘moderate’ alone is sometimes insufficient to ease public concern,” he said.

Kong urged authorities to present data and explanations in a clear and accessible manner so that the public can assess whether current air conditions are safe and stable, boosting confidence in industrial development and environmental management.

He emphasised that dialogues like this are key for residents to understand the impact of industrial development on air quality and the monitoring measures and response plans implemented by the government.

“We are not against development. What we want is for development and environmental protection to go hand in hand.

“With transparent information and clear communication, the public will feel more confident and willing to cooperate,” he said.

Kong concluded that such dialogue sessions are vital in helping Bintulu strike a balance between economic development and public health, particularly in safeguarding air quality.

Also present were NREB Bintulu office chief Franklin Brandah Edward Thomas, Special Officer to the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, Steven Kong Kai Seng, and Temenggong Dato Chai Shong Phian.