KUCHING: Malaysia will not be affected by haze this year as the Indonesian government has given the assurance that it will not happen.
According to Minster of Natural Resources and Environment Datuk Seri Dr Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, the assurance was given by the representative of the Indonesian government through a discussion held with the Governor of Central Sumatra recently.
“They are confident that they have the capacity in terms of workforce to put out forest fires as was the case in 2016.
“In 2016, the Indonesian government deployed about 3,000 of its police and army personnel to put out forest fires, and I was informed that warning will be given to the local authorities to take quick actions against any open burning,” Wan Junaidi told a press conference held after a tea ceremony with community leaders and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera (PBB) members from Kampung Tabuan Melayu in Kampung Tabuan Hilir, yesterday.
He said the Malaysian government is also ready to deploy its workforce and logistics to work together with their Indonesian counterparts if necessary.
Wan Junaidi also said the El Nino phenomenon is not expected to occur this year.
“Without extreme drought, the soil will be moist and this would help to prevent forest fire,” he said.
On other matter, Wan Junaidi said the RM200,000 flood mitigation project at Kampung Goebilt had been approved by the ministry.
He explained that the project is still waiting for the budget from the federal Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) to be channelled to the state DID.
“Once we have the budget, we will start the project and I expect it to be completed before the high tide season by the end of this year,” he said, adding the project would solve the flood issue at the village.
