KUCHING: Sarawak is stepping up efforts to prevent peatland fires and curb haze pollution by learning from Indonesia’s strategies through a recent technical visit to Jambi, Indonesia.
A delegation led by Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) Sarawak Controller of Environmental Quality, Datuk Jack Liam, carried out the two-day visit from July 23 to 24 under the Strategic Plan Study of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
NREB Sarawak in a statement said the visits underscored the importance of multi-agency collaboration, early warning systems, community participation, and sustainable land management as key pillars in effective peatland fire and haze mitigation.
“The knowledge and experience gained from Jambi will serve as valuable input in formulating Sarawak’s Strategic Plan for the Prevention of Peat Fires and Illegal Open Burning, ensuring regional best practices are adopted to safeguard the state’s environment,” it said.
Meanwhile, during the courtesy call on Jambi Vice-Governor, Drs H. Abdullah Sani, both parties reaffirmed their shared commitment to environmental protection and regional collaboration in tackling haze.
The delegation then visited the Badan Penanggulangan Bencana Daerah (BPBD) Jambi, and was welcomed by acting head, Dody Chandra.
A comprehensive briefing was delivered on integrated fire control strategies, early response systems, and community engagement initiatives.
As the official disaster management agency under the Indonesian Government, BPBD plays a frontline role in coordinating emergency response and managing natural disasters at both provincial and district levels, with strong support from regional leadership.
Later, in Tangkit Baru Village, Muaro Jambi, the delegation was briefed on best practices in peatland management, including community-led pineapple farming as a sustainable livelihood alternative to reduce reliance on fire-based land clearing.
On the second day, the team visited Daerah Operasi (DAOPS) Manggala Agni, Indonesia’s specialised forest fire prevention and suppression force, where they learnt about its real-time monitoring, rapid response coordination and community-level interventions to suppress and prevent the spread of fires, especially in fire-prone peatland areas.
The delegation were welcomed by Head of DAOPS, Sandy Prabowo.
The visit also offered valuable exposure to Indonesia’s centralised command structure, ground response protocols, and the importance of inter-agency collaboration involving Manggala Agni, BPBD, the Indonesian Army and local authorities.
