GEORGE TOWN – The public has been advised to alert the relevant departments on forest fires and to report against irresponsible individuals who set fire to the forest for their own self-interests.
Malaysian Nature Society Penang branch adviser D. Kanda Kumar said most forest fires in Malaysia are caused by individuals who set fire to clear overgrown bushes outside their houses, which roar out of control before spreading to larger areas.
“Sometimes, it is human negligence where people simply throw cigarette butts into forests nearby houses that eventually raze a large area, especially in secondary forests.
“Community leaders, politicians and relevant department officers, especially in the community in the area, should play an important role in identifying individuals who set fire in forests and those who conduct open burning, to prevent climate change and global warming issues,” Kanda Kumar said when asked to comment on a forest fire in Mount Erskine in Tg Bungah here yesterday.
A hut and shrubs in the surrounding area were totally destroyed during the incident.
“It is very common in Europe and Australia, where the authorities identify and prosecute people who set forest fires. The community also plays eyes and ears for the authorities.
“I don’t remember people responsible for forest fires being prosecuted for their offences. We are very relaxed on these issues as our community adopts a ‘buat tak tau’ attitude to avoid legal problems when the offender is being charged in court,” Kanda Kumar added.
He said there have been many forest fire incidents in the past, including in the Penang Hill area.
“We expect more such incidents in January when the dry season begins, and authorities including local councils should create contact numbers to report such incidents as 999 does not handle such incidents,” he said.
Bagan Jermal Fire and Rescue Department said on its Facebook page that it received a distress call from the public informing the fire in Tg Bungah at about 10.50am yesterday.
Facebook had stated that the department was alerted about a hut fire at Kg Koci, Mount Erskine, near Tg Bungah, and shrubs around the hut were also burnt during the incident.
A fire engine carrying several personnel arrived at the scene and put out the fire in 20 minutes, revealing that the hut had been completely burnt and shrubs in the surrounding area destroyed during the incident.
Volunteer firefighting groups from Mount Erskine and Paya Terubong assisted the fire department to put out the fire.
Firemen assured the fire has been completely extinguished. – The Vibes, December 12, 2021
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