Latest news with #SarawakNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentBoard
New Straits Times
01-08-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
13MP: Strengthening road network along Malaysian Borneo-Indonesia border
KUCHING: The plan to upgrade the road network along the Sabah-Sarawak-Kalimantan border, as announced during the tabling of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), is viewed as a continuation of the government's efforts to develop a high-quality cross-border road system between Malaysian Borneo and Indonesia. Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said that the Sarawak government had long proposed the construction of a border road, and welcomed the federal government's commitment to the initiative under the 13MP. "It was indeed proposed early on that a comprehensive plan be developed for the border road. "Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has already announced several related projects, including the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road Phases 1 and 2 (SSLR 1 and SSLR 2)," he said, when met by reporters at the 37th Kuching City Day celebration today. Uggah, who is also Sarawak infrastructure and port development minister, said that the state Public Works Department is preparing to implement projects approved by the federal government, including a new alignment currently being finalised. "This border road project had previously been announced with a RM1 billion allocation. "We are now reviewing the planning, and discussions with the relevant parties in Kuala Lumpur have already taken place," he added. According to Uggah, the project will span several strategic areas along the border, with planned connections to existing major road networks, such as the Pan Borneo Highway, SSLR 1 and SSLR 2. During the tabling of the 13MP yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the implementation of the infrastructure project as part of the government's broader efforts to enhance cross-border connectivity and economic integration. Meanwhile, on a separate matter, Uggah said that the air quality across Sarawak remained at a good to moderate level, based on Air Pollution Index (API) readings taken yesterday and this morning, amid concerns over the haze situation. Uggah, who is also the chairman of the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee, said that all divisional and district-level disaster committee chairmen have been instructed to activate their respective response teams, to strengthen monitoring efforts and take immediate action in the event of a fire. "The Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) has also cancelled all open burning permits for the past two weeks," he added.
The Sun
31-07-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
‘Water bombing' measure deployed to fight wildfires
MUKAH: Wildfires raging in plantations and jungles in Mukah, Sarawak surged beyond 110ha in size as of yesterday morning. Aerial water bombing by the Fire and Rescue Department Air Wing Unit was carried out and reduced hotspots to 75ha at noon. Ashes from the blaze are causing widespread air pollution. The Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board said the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading in Mukah hit the 160 unhealthy mark yesterday morning, with the district enveloped in haze. 'The Mukah population have been advised to stop outdoor activities and use face masks at all times,' the board said, adding that firefighters have been deployed and are using aerial tactics to contain the wildfires. The Fire and Rescue Department said it has deployed helicopters with water bombing capabilities to douse the Mukah fire. 'Our helicopters can carry out up to 15 aerial sorties. However, the fire is spreading closer to the Mukah Airport runway and into the Universiti Teknologi Mara Mukah campus, threatening the people there. 'Aerial water bombings are in full swing and our ground teams are trying to use total flooding methods.' The Marudi district is also seeing an inferno raging in plantations, firefighters in Kota Samarahan in southern Sarawak are battling a landfill blaze and teams in Serian district are fighting another fire in Kampung Danau. Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Amar Dougglas Uggah said the state is on red alert for wildfires and haze, as well as water shortages in numerous interior districts caused by worsening drought. On Wednesday, Bakelalan state assemblyman Baru Bian confirmed that thousands of people living in eight localities in his constituency along the Sarawak-Kalimantan border had run out of drinking water due to weeks of drought. Bian is liaising with state government authorities to arrange emergency water supply delivery for his remote constituency. Bakelalan constituency, which stretches from the Lawas district to the Kalimantan border, has a total population of about 50,000 people.
The Sun
28-07-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
Firefighters battling to contain 2.4ha inferno
KUCHING: The Air Pollutant Index (API) in Mukah, central Sarawak rose to an unhealthy level of 154 in the morning today. The Environment Department said Mukah is recording the worst air quality reading in Malaysia. Most other parts of Sarawak are reporting moderate API levels in the 70s. The poor air quality in Mukah is being blamed on a major wildfire burning deep within forested areas and agricultural estates. The blaze, which began four days ago, is still raging. Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department said firefighters from the Mukah station are at the scene working to contain the flames. 'Our fire teams are still on the ground to stop the flames from spreading. 'They are doing their best, but the area still burning measures at least 2.4ha – roughly the size of six football fields,' said the department. The fires have cloaked Mukah in thick grey smoke, with ash and haze drifting across the region. The Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board had already declared a statewide red alert for haze and wildfires over a week ago.
The Sun
26-07-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
Forest fire raises Sarawak API levels
KUCHING: The air quality in southern Sarawak is deteriorating as forest fires rage on in the state. Mukah is experiencing a wildfire that is spreading within a forest in the central Sarawak district. 'Our teams are having difficulties reaching the locations as the fires are burning (deep) inside the forest. 'There are no roads to access these locations,' said the Fire and Rescue Department. The Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board said the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading in the Lundu district yesterday increased to 123, which is beyond the unhealthy mark of 100. Lundu is about 90km from state capital Kuching, which also showed an unhealthy reading of 116. Located at the southernmost tip of Sarawak, it shares a land border with Kalimantan in Indonesia. Yesterday evening, the Sri Aman, Samarahan and Mukah districts recorded API readings of 97, 92 and 91 respectively. The Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre showed satellite images of winds sweeping into the state from Kalimantan. Earlier this week, Sarawak officially declared a red alert for haze and forest fires.
Borneo Post
25-07-2025
- Climate
- Borneo Post
Sarawak braces for transboundary haze amid spike in border hotspots
Photo taken at on July 25, 2025 shows haze blanketing Kuching's skyline around 6.30pm. – Photo by Roystein Emmor KUCHING (July 25): A surge in hotspots along the Sarawak-Kalimantan border is raising the risk of transboundary haze, said the Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB). Citing a July 21 report from the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), the NREB said in a statement that the HYSPLIT model forecasts a moderate impact from haze originating in the neighbouring country, particularly over western Sarawak within the next 72 hours. 'As a proactive or preventive measure, NREB is carrying out patrolling and physical monitoring activities including using drones in agricultural areas, peatlands, bushland areas and landfills which have been identified as having a high risk of fire. 'This measure has proven effective in reducing open burning. This can be seen from the significant difference in the number of hotspots detected in Sarawak (62) and in the neighbouring country (448 hotspots) from July 18-24,' NREB said, adding that it would continue to monitor the daily development of hotspots through the Singapore-based Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) website. Most of the foreign hotspots were located near Lundu and Tebedu. As of 8am today, Lundu recorded an Air Pollution Index (API) of 125 (unhealthy), while Tebedu registered 69 (moderate). They would be identified as high-risk areas if their API increases, the board added. Should air quality worsen, NREB will update the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) with real-time data on API levels and hotspots to support decision-making, including potential school closures, depending on Education Ministry thresholds. The board also reminded the public not to engage in open burning during the dry season and urged residents to report any such activities to the nearest NREB office or via its hotline 082-447488 or 082-319500. Meanwhile, according to the Department of Environment's (DOE) API management system (Apims) reading today, Kuching registered an unhealthy air quality today with API reading of 100 at 1pm, 112 at 2pm, 111 at 3pm, 114 at 4pm, 116 at 5pm and 119 at 6pm. As for Lundu, its API reading as of 4pm was at 119 (unhealthy), while Serian as of 2pm registered an API of 119 (unhealthy). haze hotspots Kuching metmalaysia NREB transboundary
