MIRI: Curtin University Malaysia recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Natural Resources and Environmental Board, focusing on fire prevention and suppression procedures for private landowners in Kuala Baram.
For the record, Curtin Malaysia was one of three private landowners in the Kuala Baram area agreeing, under the MoU, to help prevent peat fires in the Kuala Baram area.
The university’s campus spans 1,200 acres in Senadin, surrounded by peat swamps and wetlands teeming with indigenous and migratory water birds and other wildlife. The other landowners were Miri North City Development Sdn. Bhd and Miri Housing Development Realty Sdn. Bhd.
During the signing ceremony, four other signatories renewed their commitment to implement the revised standard operating procedure (SOP) under the MoU. They were Naim Holdings Berhad, represented by Permy Development Sdn. Bhd. and Naim Land Sdn. Bhd., Pantai Bayu Indah Sdn. Bhd., Linau Mewah Sdn. Bhd., and Woodman Kuala Baram Estate Sdn. Bhd.
In his text of speech read by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the MoU was a well-planned initiative to address the reoccurrence of peat fire outbreaks in Kuala Baram, an area with approximately 8,000 hectares of peat fire-prone land near Bandar Baru Permyjaya and Desa Senadin.
“I highlighted the significant progress made in tackling the annual problem, citing a decline in peat area burnt from 2,218 hectares in 2019 to 683.5 hectares in 2020, and just 14.5 hectares in 2023.
“I also emphasised the importance of agency and landowner collaboration, sharing of experiences and resources, and periodic monitoring of fire-prone areas to achieve such tremendous results,” he said.
He added that NREB’s initiative supported government efforts to ensure environmental sustainability in the development of Sarawak through ‘trend-setting’, showcasing the ability of landowners to work with relevant agencies towards a common goal of ensuring greater environmental management and protection.
On another note, Curtin Malaysia’s Dean of Learning and Teaching Professor Tang Fu Ee, remarked that Curtin Malaysia is fully committed to collaborating with other stakeholders in averting peat fires, being located in a peat fire prone area and having experienced the dangers and ill-effects effects of such fires in the past.
“The university believes long-term solutions to the perennial problem need to be found and took the initiative to host Miri’s first Peat Fire Conference to discuss peat fire prevention and suppression in 2020,” he said.
Tang added that as a university that advocates a greener environment, teaches environmental engineering, and is engaged in environmental research, Curtin Malaysia is well positioned to offer viable ideas and solutions.
