MIRI: Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has reiterated his call to the public here to refrain from open burning activities.
“For the past few years, we are lucky that the situation was under control,” he told the media at a press confrence after chairing a meeting at the Miri Resident’s Office on yesterday (May 2).
He added that the Sarawak government was also looking into cloud seeding if the dry spell persisted.
“We are monitoring the situation as the procedure (cloud seeding) needs clouds. We will take whatever steps to minimise the effects of the prolonged dry season.”
The Deputy Premier said that this year, all agencies in this division, including seven landowners in Kuala Baram, Tudan, Permyjaya and Senadin, had geared up for the impending dry season.
All seven landowners had formed their own firefighting teams to combat bushfires, disclosed Uggah, who is also the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SMDC) chairman.
“Apart from deploying teams (from Bomba and Rela) to check on any open burning activities in these areas, we also going to use drones.”
Also present at the press conference were Sarawak Minister for Transport, Datuk Sri Lee Kim Shin; Miri Resident Jamalie Busri and heads of relevant agencies.
On water supply to interior areas in the northern region, Uggah said that both Laku Management Sdn Bhd (Laku) and the Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) were in standby mode to ensure supply is sufficient in case of prolonged drought.
