BAU: The ongoing haze is taking a toll on daily activities and livelihoods in Bau, particularly among small traders and those whose income depends on outdoor activities.
Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Henry Harry Jinep said Bau was among the areas badly affected due to its proximity to the Sarawak-Kalimantan border, with the prevailing conditions restricting people’s movements.
“When people’s movement is limited, many activities are affected as well.
“If you have a small trader operating a stall near the stadium or by the roadside, who is going to come out and buy when conditions are like this?” he told reporters during a press conference here today (Aug 25).
Henry, who is also Deputy Minister of Transport (Riverine and Maritime), said those involved in agriculture and other outdoor economic activities were similarly affected.
The situation has also prompted the postponement of the Tasik Biru Run, which was initially scheduled for Aug 29.
“We decided to postpone the Tasik Biru Run to another date to avoid holding an outdoor event under these conditions. Indoor activities may still be manageable, but we have to be more careful when it comes to outdoor activities,” he said.
On the wider haze issue, Henry cautioned against placing the blame entirely on communities that continued to depend on traditional agricultural practices for their livelihoods.
He said some communities still relied on farming to support their families, making it important to provide practical alternatives to practices involving the use of fire.
“We have to understand that some of them depend on this for their livelihood and to put food on the table. Rather than simply blaming them, we need to find better alternatives and encourage a transition towards more modern agricultural practices,” he said.
Henry pointed to the adoption of modern padi cultivation methods in Sarawak as an example of how farming practices could gradually change when alternatives were available.
For now, he advised residents to remain cautious, particularly when carrying out outdoor activities, and expressed hope that conditions would improve soon.
“Hopefully, the situation will return to normal within one or two weeks and will not drag on for too long,” he added.
