Perak DOE Steps Up Open-burning Patrols Amid Haze

IPOH, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- The Perak Department of Environment (DOE) is conducting daily patrols to detect open burning and monitoring air quality hourly at five stations amid the current haze.

Its director, Datuk Dr Mohammad Ezanni Mat Salleh, said the haze was caused by transboundary pollution, not local sources, but the department was maintaining surveillance to prevent the situation from worsening.

“The monitoring also provides the public with up-to-date Air Pollutant Index (API) readings to help them assess air quality in their areas,” he told reporters after the National Environment Day and World Ozone Day 2026 celebrations, officiated by State Science, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Teh Kok Lim.

In a separate development, Mohammad Ezanni said recent fish deaths in Sungai Perak near Sayong, Kuala Kangsar, were believed to be linked to sand extraction activities that could increase water turbidity.

He said the department found no evidence of pollution from factory discharges or chemicals.

As a precaution, the DOE had advised the relevant agencies to ensure that any permitted sand extraction was carried out downstream rather than upstream to reduce risks to water intake areas.

A video showing dead tengalan, baung and patin fish in Sungai Perak recently went viral on social media, raising concerns about the river’s water quality, its ecosystem and the livelihoods of inland fishermen.

-- BERNAMA