KUCHING (April 1): Fire incidents across Malaysia have risen again this year after declining in 2025, with 12,938 cases recorded nationwide as of March 31, said Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Deputy Director-General (Operations) Dato Ir Ts Ahmad Izram Osman.

He said statistics over the past three years showed a fluctuating trend, but the number of cases had increased again this year.

“Based on statistics for the past three years — 2024, 2025 and 2026 — the trend is inconsistent, but we are seeing an increase again in 2026,” he told a press conference after gracing the Bomba Sarawak Excellent Service Award Ceremony at Dewan Majma Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah here.

Ahmad Izram said 12,938 cases recorded so far this year involved forest, bush and plantation fires, with bush fires remaining the most common type of incident, compared to 9,941 cases in 2025.

According to him, 13,182 bush fire cases were recorded in 2024, followed by 7,984 in 2025, before rising again to 11,147 cases recorded up to March this year.

“This year, within just three months, we have already recorded more than 12,000 cases involving forest, bush and plantation fires,” he said.

“Within just three months of 2026, we have already recorded more than 11,000 bush fire cases,” he said.

Several states recorded the highest number of bush fire incidents, with Kedah topping the list at 2,524 cases, followed by Johor (1,886), Melaka (1,010), Kelantan (937) and Perak (759).

For plantation and farm fires, Johor recorded the highest number with 359 cases, followed by Selangor (165), Perak (54), Kedah (29) and Kelantan (25).

Ahmad Izram said 1,047 forest fire incidents had also been recorded nationwide as of March this year, with Selangor reporting the highest number at 337 cases, followed by Kelantan (123), Penang (121), Sabah (113) and Kedah (102).

He attributed the rising number of fires to hot and dry weather conditions, which increase the risk of vegetation fires.

“We are seeing temperatures reaching up to 38 degrees Celsius in some areas, especially in the northern part of the peninsula, which increases the risk of bush and peatland fires,” he said.

He also noted that uncontrolled open burning, including slash-and-burn agricultural practices, remains a major challenge.

“Open burning that is not properly controlled can easily spread to nearby vegetation and plantations, especially during dry conditions,” he said.

To address the issue, Ahmad Izram said the department has mapped high-risk areas and intensified monitoring efforts, including increasing patrols at hotspot locations.

He said Bomba is also working with enforcement agencies such as the Department of Environment to curb illegal open burning.

“We do not have direct enforcement powers, but we assist enforcement agencies to ensure action can be taken according to the law,” he said.

Ahmad Izram added that the department is increasingly using technology such as drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras to detect fires, particularly in peatland areas.

“We cannot rely solely on manpower to fight fires. We are now using drones with thermal imaging to detect hotspots, especially in peat soil areas,” he said.

He said firefighting operations involving bush and peat fires can take several days, with personnel often working extended shifts to contain the blaze.

“In some cases, operations can take more than a week, and our personnel sometimes have to work 24-hour shifts to contain the fires,” he said.

In Sarawak, Ahmad Izram said several fire incidents had been reported recently, including in Tatau, Daro and Senadin, with firefighting teams continuing operations on site.

DENGKIL, April 1 — The redevelopment project for dilapidated buildings at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) Dengkil here is progressing smoothly and is ahead of schedule, with completion expected earlier than originally planned, said Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh.

Wong said the project’s physical progress has reached 65.14 per cent compared to the original target of about 50 per cent in March, placing it 15.14 per cent ahead of schedule and approximately 70 days ahead of the contract timeline.

“With this excellent contract performance, we hope to bring forward the project completion date from the original target of Oct 12 this year.

“Based on current progress, we are working to accelerate it further to about 90 days ahead, but what is important is that the project is expected to be completed before the contract period ends,” he told reporters after a working visit to the project site today.

Elaborating, Wong said the RM13.3 million project was approved in 2022 under the Second Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) to fully replace the old buildings, which had been classified as dilapidated and unsafe.

He said the project scope includes the construction of two main blocks — an administration block and an academic block housing eight classrooms — as well as a new preschool building with two classrooms and a conducive open hall space.

“Once completed, all facilities including desks, chairs and learning amenities will be fully in place, enabling teaching and learning to be carried out immediately in a more comfortable environment,” he said.

He added that the overall project also includes the construction of a new sewerage system and basic facilities, including furniture and learning infrastructure.

“Although there are minor issues involving coordination with agencies such as Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) and Air Selangor, we are confident these can be resolved through close cooperation,” he said.

Wong said student safety remains a priority throughout the project as the school continues to operate with staff and students present during school days.

“I observed that safety aspects such as hoarding installation and site management have been very well implemented by the contractor and the Public Works Department Malaysia,” he said.

On recurring flood issues at the school, he said improvements to the internal drainage system are being carried out under the project, while awaiting the implementation of a flood mitigation project by the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) at a nearby river. — Bernama

KUCHING, 1 April: Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) melaporkan peningkatan kes kebakaran di seluruh negara sehingga Mac 2026, terutamanya melibatkan hutan, belukar dan ladang, yang memberi impak kepada keselamatan awam serta alam sekitar.

Timbalan Ketua Pengarah (Operasi) JBPM, Datuk Ahmad Izram Osman, menyatakan lima negeri dengan kebakaran belukar tertinggi ialah Kedah (2,524 kes), Johor (1,886 kes), Melaka (1,010 kes), Kelantan (937 kes) dan Perak (759 kes).

Bagi kebakaran ladang dan kebun, menurutnya Johor mencatat 359 kes, diikuti Selangor, Perak, Kedah dan Kelantan, manakala kebakaran hutan merekodkan 1,047 kes.

“Tren tiga tahun terakhir menunjukkan ketidakkonsistenan, dengan kebakaran belukar pada 2024 sebanyak 13,182 kes, menurun pada 2025 (7,984 kes), tetapi sehingga Mac 2026 sudah meningkat kepada 11,147 kes.

“Jumlah keseluruhan kebakaran di negara ini pada tahun ini sahaja sudah mencapai 12,938 kes, menandakan risiko kebakaran yang terus meningkat, terutamanya dengan fenomena El Nino,” jelas beliau.

Punca utama kebakaran di kawasan hotspot utama katanya termasuk utara Semenanjung, timur Pahang dan Johor ialah cuaca panas dan kering, pembakaran terbuka yang tidak terkawal, serta kurang pemantauan di kawasan berisiko tinggi seperti tanah gambut dan belukar.

Oleh itu kata Ahmad Izram, JBPM menekankan langkah kawalan seperti rondaan di kawasan berisiko, nasihat kepada penduduk dan petani, kempen kesedaran awam serta penggunaan dron dengan kamera termal.

“Jabatan turut menghargai anggota bomba yang bekerja tanpa mengenal penat lelah, termasuk menukar syif daripada 12 jam kepada 24 jam bagi menangani kebakaran belukar, hutan dan ladang,” jelasnya.

Ahmad Izram juga menegaskan bahawa operasi pemadaman akan diteruskan secara berterusan sehingga keselamatan awam dan aset negara terjamin. – TVS

MANILA: Pegawai kanan pertahanan ASEAN dan negara rakan berkumpul di Manila bagi memperkukuh kerjasama dalam bantuan kemanusiaan dan tindak balas bencana (HADR) di samping menangani cabaran keselamatan serantau yang muncul, lapor Agensi Berita Filipina (PNA).

Dalam satu kenyataan pada Rabu, Jabatan Pertahanan Negara (DND) memaklumkan bahawa Filipina, selaku Pengerusi ASEAN tahun ini, menjadi tuan rumah bagi Mesyuarat Kumpulan Kerja Pegawai Kanan Pertahanan ASEAN-Campur (ADSOM-Campur) dari 30 hingga 31 Mac.

Mesyuarat itu menghimpunkan wakil dari negara anggota ASEAN dan 'Negara Campur' – Australia, China, India, Jepun, Korea Selatan, New Zealand, Russia dan Amerika Syarikat (AS).

Penolong Setiausaha DND bagi Hal Ehwal Antarabangsa, Marita Yoro mempengerusikan mesyuarat itu atas kapasiti beliau sebagai Ketua Kumpulan Kerja ADSOM-Campur.

"Perbincangan tertumpu kepada kemajuan kerjasama di bawah Kumpulan Kerja Pakar (EWG) Mesyuarat Menteri-Menteri Pertahanan ASEAN (ADMM)-Campur bagi kitaran 2024 - 2027.

"Kemas kini dibentangkan merangkumi bidang utama bantuan kemanusiaan dan bantuan bencana, keselamatan maritim, perubatan ketenteraan, pencegahan keganasan, operasi pengaman, tindakan periuk api untuk kemanusiaan dan keselamatan siber," menurut DND.

Agensi itu menyatakan bahawa perbincangan berkenaan menekankan dorongan berterusan untuk kerjasama praktikal dan berorientasikan tindakan bagi menangani cabaran keselamatan yang semakin kompleks.

Yoro menekankan keperluan untuk mengekalkan kerjasama pertahanan diterajui ASEAN di tengah-tengah landskap geopolitik yang berubah-ubah.

"Ketika kita berkumpul hari ini di tengah-tengah jurang geopolitik yang semakin melebar dan persaingan strategik yang semakin meruncing.

"Usaha serantau mesti kekal berpandukan paksi keamanan dan keselamatan yang dibina atas pematuhan kepada undang-undang antarabangsa, dialog tulen dan kerjasama untuk kepentingan semua," katanya.

Beliau turut menyeru kepada perpaduan dan orde antarabangsa berasaskan peraturan, serta menggesa kerjasama yang lebih erat dalam kalangan negara anggota.

Mesyuarat itu mengesahkan komitmen Filipina untuk memperkukuh pemusatan ASEAN dan memperdalam pembabitan dengan rakan dialog melalui platform ADMM-Campur.

Pegawai juga membincangkan kebimbangan yang muncul, termasuk perlindungan infrastruktur bawah air yang kritikal, tindak balas terhadap ancaman kimia, biologi dan radiologi, serta penyesuaian terhadap teknologi baharu.

Di luar mesyuarat, Yoro bertemu dengan rakan sejawat dari negara rakan untuk meneroka kerjasama lanjut dan menyelaras tindak balas terhadap isu keselamatan serantau dan global.

Dalam kenyataan berasingan, Yoro menegaskan peranan ASEAN dalam mengekalkan kestabilan serantau.

"ASEAN kekal sebagai satu-satunya institusi berdaya maju yang boleh memegang peranan sebagai pusat, di mana kita diingatkan tentang kepentingan dialog yang mampan dan berprinsip.

"Komitmen terhadap pembabitan yang aman dan membina, serta rasa tanggungjawab bersama dan berkekalan harus membimbing usaha kolektif kita," katanya.

Yoro turut menyatakan bahawa ADMM tahun ini adalah signifikan memandangkan ASEAN menyambut ulang tahun ke-20 Mesyuarat Menteri-Menteri Pertahanan ASEAN.

Tahun ini juga ilah ulang tahun ke-50 Perjanjian Persahabatan dan Kerjasama di Asia Tenggara (TAC), mercu tanda yang mencerminkan kerjasama serantau selama beberapa dekad.