SHAH ALAM, Feb 26 — A total 994 cases of open burning involving an area of 8,140 hectares was recorded by the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM) of Selangor from January until yesterday.
Selangor JBPM director, Norazam Khamis said 75 cases involved open burnings in farms and plantations, forests (230 cases), shrubs and lalang (464 cases) and illegal dumpsites (225 cases).
‘’Some open burning cases, for example on forest fringes, occurred at the same places three to four times due to the current hot and dry weather.
‘’Selangor JBPM is still working hard to put out three fires which occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday, namely, on the fringes of the Kuala Langat Selatan Forest Reserve, peat forest near the ELITE Expressway in Cyberjaya and the peatland area in Jalan Nenas, Meru.
He was speaking to reporters after the launching of the Management And Science University (MSU) Campus Public Sanitation Campaign here, today.
He said a preliminary investigation by the Selangor JBPM found that the fire taking place on the fringe of the Kuala Langat Selatan Forest Reserve was done deliberately by certain individuals and JBPM would be lodging a police report for further investigation.
Queried on the COVID-19 vaccine injections for officers and personnel of the Selangor JBPM, Norazam said over 900 of the department’s 1,700 staff had been registered for the first phase while the rest would be for the subsequent phases.
‘’We are currently waiting for the Selangor Health Department to furnish us the date and location for the officers and personnel involved,” he said.
