KUALA LANGAT, June 13 — Selangor is ramping up monitoring and preparedness efforts to curb forest and peatland fire risks amid the El Nino phenomenon.
State executive councillor for public health and environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin said continuous monitoring is being carried out at various levels through coordination among relevant agencies to ensure fire risks are addressed at an early stage.
She said among the mechanisms activated are the Smart Selangor Operation Centre (SSOC) and the District Disaster Operation Centre (DDOC), operated by the State Disaster Management Unit in coordination with all district and land offices.
“The Disaster Management Unit, through SSOC, operates by monitoring weather indicators and coordinating communication with DDOC and the Central Disaster Operations Control Centre in handling disaster incidents,” she said after the Selangor World Water Day 2026 and Low Carbon Day celebration at Pantai Kelanang here today.
She added that the Selangor Environment Department and local authorities will carry out monitoring and risk assessments at illegal dumping sites and peatland areas as a preventive measure against fires.
“If forest reserves or peatlands catch fire, the State Disaster Management Unit will fund the activation and pumping of groundwater wells under the supervision of the Minerals and Geoscience Department (JMG) to flood the affected areas."
In addition, the Selangor Forestry Department (JPNS) is implementing the Sustainable Management of Peatland Ecosystems in Malaysia (SMPEM) project aimed at managing peatlands in a sustainable and integrated manner.
“Peatland fire prevention operations also involve cooperation from the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department to ensure fires do not spread and large-scale incidents are prevented."
Previously, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said grassroots-level preparedness must be strengthened in the face of the El Nino phenomenon.
