Lee urges public to avoid open burning during hot, dry season

MIRI (April 7): The public has been urged to avoid any form of open burning, especially during the current hot and dry season, as prevention is far better than firefighting efforts after an incident occurs.

Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, who is also the minister in-charge of Miri Division Disaster Management Committee, stressed that enforcement and inter-agency coordination alone are not sufficient without the support and cooperation of the public and industry players.

He said the hot and dry weather has heightened the likelihood of forest fires, peatland fires and blazes in open areas, which can spread rapidly if not brought under control promptly.

“High temperatures cause fire to ignite and spread easily, making them harder to control and increasing risks to both communities and the environment,” he said during the signing ceremony of Miri Open Burning Emergency Mutual Aid (Mobema) Manual held at a local hotel here on Monday.

He explained that Mobema is an initiative by Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) and Bomba Miri, aimed at addressing open burning incidents in this area.

“It is a voluntary organisation comprising participating companies (landowners) and government emergency services to promote mutual emergency assistance among companies and government agencies, provide manpower and logistical support during emergencies; coordinate effective use of resources, and conduct joint fire safety exercises.

“Ultimately, the success of any operation depends greatly on the coordination of human resources, logistics, firefighting assets, field communication, site accessibility and technical support from all parties involved,” he said, adding that this manual will serve as an essential guideline to strengthen operational preparedness, clarify the roles of each agency, and enhance coordination of emergency response on the ground.

At the event, he witnessed the signing of a Memorandum for Mobema involving stakeholders namely Shin Yang Sdn Bhd’s Linau Mewah Sdn Bhd and Melinau Transport Sdn Bhd; Naim Land Sdn Bhd; Permy Development Sdn Bhd, Pantai Bayu Indah Sdn Bhd; Miri Housing Development Realty Sdn Bhd; Woodman Kuala Baram Estate Sdn Bhd, Curtin University Malaysia and Imasa Dinasti Sdn Bhd.

Lee stressed that the signing of this MoU reflects the spirit of cooperation that forms the core strength of Miri as a rapidly developing city with the presence of industrial sectors, local communities and environmentally sensitive areas.

“In the context of developing Miri as the northern gateway of Sarawak, we are not only focusing on economic growth, investment and infrastructure development, but also on urban resilience, public safety and environmental protection. The safety of the people and environmental sustainability must always go hand in hand,” he said.

Among those present were State Bomba director Jamri Masran, representative of Miri Resident Melissa Labut and Bomba Miri Zone 6 chief Ismaidi Ismail.