Proposal to up fines on environ offenders lauded
Published on: Friday, April 26, 2024
By: Ricardo Unto
Earlier, Joniston said that in Sabah, several State and Federal departments and agencies have authority related to this issue, especially the DOE under the Federal Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, and the Environmental Protection Department (JPAS) under the State Tourism, Culture, and Environment Ministry.
Kota Kinabalu: The State Tourism, Culture, and Environment Ministry welcomed a proposal to increase fines for environmental offenders under the Environment Protection Enactment 2002.
Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said that given the current climate change issues, a stronger deterrent is needed.
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“I believe this is a good proposal and will be considered,” he said in response to a supplementary question from Datuk Darell Leiking (Warisan-Moyog) during the State Legislative Assembly sitting on Tuesday.
Darell had suggested that the maximum fine of RM50,000 under the Enactment should be raised to over RM500,000 for environmental conservation.
Earlier, to Kukusan Assemblywoman Rina Jainal’s original question, Joniston said those who conduct open burning for agricultural purposes on their own land or someone else’s land may be fined up to RM2,000 for each offence.
“Penalties can also include fines of up to RM500,000 or imprisonment for up to five years or both if convicted under the Environmental Quality Act 1974.”
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To another supplementary question by Rina, Joniston said that from January 1 to April 4 this year, the Department of Environment (DOE) received 85 reports of open burning in the State.
“The department naturally needs some time to investigate before the perpetrators are taken to court.
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“Patrols are also conducted aggressively – 561 operations to prevent open burning operations were carried out with 177 hotspots detected during the same period,” he said.
He also said 17 warning notices and 17 fines were issued for open burning offences.
Earlier, Joniston said that in Sabah, several State and Federal departments and agencies have authority related to this issue, especially the DOE under the Federal Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, and the Environmental Protection Department (JPAS) under the State Tourism, Culture, and Environment Ministry.
“Sabah DOE enforces laws related to open burning by outlining various strategies to address undesirable incidents caused by open burning.
“These include activating the National Open Burning Action Plan and standard operating procedures (SOP) since Feb 16, this year, as well as implementing fire prevention programmes in peatlands through intensive patrols.”
JPAS, on the other hand, controls open burning by ensuring that development project developers with Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval comply with the ban on open burning.
JPAS also implements environmental self-regulation (ESR) programmes in Tawau, Keningau, and Sandakan to enhance compliance with Environmental Conditions, especially the ban on open burning.
Furthermore, to address this issue in the long term, JPAS also conducts various awareness programmes on the importance of environmental conservation for various target groups, conducts lectures and exhibitions, provides e-posters, and develops digital games related to climate change.
“For example, JPAS, together with the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), operates a project known as Air Quality Monitoring in Schools, in five schools in Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, and Tuaran, to monitor air quality around schools and raise awareness among students and the school community.
“Various efforts are also undertaken by other departments such as the Sabah Forestry Department, the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department, and local authorities to control open burning incidents by issuing warnings or directives and urging the public to refrain from open burning activities to prevent uncontrollable fire,” he said.
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