KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Department of Environment (DoE) actively enforces laws related to open burning, said state Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
He said among the strategies DoE employs were the activation of the National Open Burning Action Plan and other standard operating procedures (SOP).
These, he said, have been in effect since Feb 16, and includes fire prevention programmes on peatlands.
He said the department also conducts intensive patrols.
"The Department of Environmental Protection (DoEP) under my ministry controls open burning by ensuring that developers of projects with Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval comply with the prohibition on open burning.
"It also implements the Environmental Self-Regulation (ESR) programme in the districts of Tawau, Keningau, and Sandakan to enhance compliance with environmental conditions, especially the prohibition on open burning," he said during the question-and-answer session at the state assembly sitting here.
Joniston was replying to a question from Rina Jainal (PH-Kukusan) on actions against those who burn their own land and other people's land for agricultural purposes, contributing to open burning, as well as climate change.
Farmers who engage in open burning for agricultural purposes will be fined up to RM2,000 per offence.
Joniston also said besides action taken regarding the issue of open burning, DoE has implemented various initiatives such as continuous air quality monitoring in hotspot areas through patrols and the use of drones.
He said fines of up to RM500,000 or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, can be imposed on environmental offenders.
Farmers who do open burning for agriculture purposes would be compounded up to RM2,000 per offence.
"My ministry, together with other relevant ministries and departments, will continue to intensify efforts to control the issues of global warming and climate change, guided by the strategies and action plans outlined under the Sabah Environmental Protection Policy 2017."