Sarawak stiffens fire penalties

Tue, 10 Mar 1998 | Source: AP

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Cracking down on the fires that fueled last year's choking haze, Sarawak's state government has adopted stiffer penalties against illegal burning of forests.

Under new regulations effective March 1, anyone caught starting fires without permission from Sarawak's Natural Resources and Environment Board can be punished with a fine of up to 20,000 ringgit (US$5,000) and three years jail, the New Straits Times reported yesterday.

Illegal burners of state-owned land face a fine of up to 30,000 ringgit. Previously, the maximum fine was 10,000 ringgit.

Sarawak, located on the Malaysian side of Borneo island, was one of the areas hardest hit by last year's haze which blanketed much of Southeast Asia and threatened the health of an estimated 70 million people.

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