KUCHING: A technical visit to Peninsular Malaysia, led by the Deputy Controller (Management) of the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) Sarawak, Kenny Poon, was conducted from July 29 to July 31.
This visit, part of the Strategic Plan Study under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), aimed at studying best practices in haze mitigation, peatland management, and fire prevention.
The delegation’s first stop on July 29 was the Department of Environment (DOE), where they were warmly welcomed by Senior Assistant Director-General, Mohd Yunos Rais.
“The delegation was briefed on the Environmental Quality Monitoring Programme (EQMP), which consolidates critical environmental data, and learned about the role of Continuous Air Quality Monitoring (CAQM) systems, which provide real-time, continuous air quality data,” it said through a press statement today.
DOE officers also shared their standard operating procedures (SOPs) and strategies for haze mitigation and fire prevention, emphasising the importance of systematic data management to enhance national environmental governance.
On the second day, July 30, the delegation visited the Malaysian Meteorological Department (METMalaysia), where they were received by Deputy Director-General (Operations), Ambun Dindang.
The session provided a comprehensive briefing on the Fire Danger Rating System (FDRS) and the use of Automated Auxiliary Weather Stations (AAWS).
The delegation was introduced to advance forecasting and monitoring tools, including the automated FDRS, the interactive Web Map Service (WMS) displaying fire risk data, and the newly developed seven-day FDRS forecast alongside the Fire Weather Index (FWI).
The final day of the visit, July 31, concluded with a field trip to the Raja Musa Forest Reserve (HSRM), hosted by the Director of the Selangor Forestry Department, Azhar Ahmad.
The delegation observed fire suppression techniques and preventive infrastructure such as canal blocks, water management systems, monitoring towers, and eco-hydrological restoration methods.
“A detailed briefing focused on Forest Fire Incident Management and the Integrated Management Plan for the North and South Selangor Peat Swamp Forest (2025-2034), highlighting the importance of long-term peat swamp rehabilitation, fire prevention infrastructure, and local community engagement,” it said.
The three-day visit proved successful, equipping the Sarawak delegation with valuable insights and practical exposure to best practices in environmental data management, haze mitigation, and peatland fire prevention, which will contribute to Sarawak’s strategic plan on these issues.
