SARAWAK must impose a strict ban on open burning without delay, a government lawmaker said, after more than 60 cases of wildfires were reported in the state in the past three days.
Tanjung Manis MP Yusuf Abdul Wahab made the call, saying wildfires were getting worse in Sarawak.
"There must be a total ban on all forms of open burning in Sarawak as the number of cases of wildfires is rising all over," he said.
"In Tanjung Manis, we are also affected by open burning that is causing bushfires to spread," he said during a visit to his constituency.
The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department said today that 65 cases of open burning were reported in the state over the past three days.
Firefighting teams are battling an increasing number of wildfires, especially in Kuching, Sibu, and Miri.
Eight districts in Sarawak are experiencing a heat wave after temperatures soared to between 35C and 37C for three days in a row.
The Meteorological Department has issued a Level 1 warning for the districts of Miri, Telang Usan, and Marudi to the north; Sibu and Kapit in central Sarawak; and Lubok Antu, Sri Aman, and Kuching to the south.
A Level 1 alert means temperatures of between 35c and 37C for three consecutive days.
The heatwave in Sarawak started on July 27.
Health authorities have warned people to avoid outdoor activities and stay hydrated. – July 31, 2024.
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