POLICE are ready to assist the Department of Environment (DoE) if there are requests to curb open-burning activity in the country, said Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador.

There have been no arrests, however, on such activity so far, he said.

“We will take action when there is clear evidence they have broken the law,” he told reporters after the launching of the foreign policy framework of the New Malaysia by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad at Perdana Putra in Putrajaya today.

Hamid was asked whether police would take action against those who conduct open burning as several hotspots were detected in this country.

On September 11, DoE had imposed a ban on open burning in the whole country except for cremation, religious purposes, grilling/barbecue and flaring until the end of the southwest monsoon period.

DoE director-general Norlin Jaafar issued the order in view of the air pollution that has enveloped the country since September 5. The southwest monsoon prevails from May to September.

The ban has been imposed in accordance with the powers vested with the director-general of Environmental Quality as per Section 29AA(2) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974. – Bernama, September 18, 2019.