The Department of Environment (DOE) has announced an immediate ban against open burning activities in Selangor, Malacca and Johor until a date to be specified later.

Its director-general, Halimah Hassan, in a statement in Kuala Lumpur today, said the ban was announced according to Section 29AA(2) of the Environmental Quality (Amendment) Act 2001.

open burning However, she said exceptions would be given for religious and funeral rites, frills or barbeques and gas flaring activities.

“Those who are convicted of the open burning offence can face fine of not more than RM500,000 or a maximum imprisonment of five years, or both. A maximum compound fine of RM2,000 can also be imposed for each offence,” she said.

She also urged the public to cooperate by putting out small fires and report any open burning activity to the Fire and Rescue Department and DOE by calling the hotline 1-800-88-272 or 03-88891972/ 03-88880336.

The three states were currently suffering from the smoky haze caused by forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia.

- Bernama