SANDAKAN: Tanjong Papat Assemblyman Alex Thien Ching Qiang has called on the public to stay vigilant and urged the Sabah Government to roll out early preventive measures as haze from Kalimantan’s forest and land fires begins to blanket parts of the state—with a special emphasis on safeguarding children, students, and other vulnerable groups.
Thien stressed that Sabah is confronting more than just smoky skies, as the ongoing hot and dry weather threatens to escalate risks of forest fires, open burning, and water supply strain. He noted that he had previously flagged El Niño-related concerns in the State Legislative Assembly, and the current outbreak of fires in West, Central, and South Kalimantan now serves as a concrete warning that these compounding dangers must not be underestimated.
The assemblyman specifically urged education authorities, schools, kindergartens, and childcare centres to track local air quality closely and adjust outdoor activities accordingly. Rather than waiting for the Air Pollutant Index to hit “very unhealthy” levels, he said institutions should proactively modify or suspend sports, assemblies, and non-essential outdoor sessions as conditions shift, putting student health and safety first.
Thien also appealed to community groups and event organisers to exercise extra caution when planning outdoor gatherings during this hazy, dry spell, advising them to consider rescheduling or altering formats where feasible. He reminded the public to completely abstain from open burning—including rubbish, leaves, and garden waste—warning that even a small spark can spread rapidly in arid conditions and compound the existing pollution.
On personal health, he advised residents to minimise unnecessary outdoor exposure, take appropriate protective measures when venturing out, and stay well-hydrated. He singled out children, the elderly, and those with respiratory or heart conditions as especially at risk, urging anyone experiencing persistent coughing, breathlessness, chest tightness, or severe eye irritation to seek medical help without delay.
Looking beyond immediate haze responses, Thien called on the Sabah Government and relevant agencies to strengthen cross-departmental coordination and readiness—covering sustained monitoring of air quality and fire hotspots, plus contingency planning for firefighting, public health, school operations, and water resources. He insisted that haze is merely one symptom of a broader nexus of drought, extreme heat, and fire hazards that demand an integrated approach.
Concluding, Thien warned against treating the current situation as a one-off environmental blip, urging the government to act proactively rather than reactively. “I hope this serves as a reminder that we must start preparing now—before conditions worsen, we should take every necessary preventive measure within our control,” he said. – James Leong
Thien stressed that Sabah is confronting more than just smoky skies.
