Sabah: The Sabah state government has issued a circular banning open burning, including land clearing for agriculture, during the hot weather period linked to El Ni±o to reduce the risk of forest and plantation fires. Sabah Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said the move is a precautionary step ahead of the hot, dry weather expected between April and August this year.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the minister emphasized that hot weather could trigger small fires from open burning or land clearing. "We have already issued a circular banning shifting cultivation, land clearing and burning during this period to reduce the risk of forest fires and fires in plantation areas," he said, replying to Nurulalsah Hassan Alban (Warisan-Sungai Sibuga) in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly session today.

Nurulalsah also inquired about incentives to promote Kebun Dapur, a subsistence farming initiative in her constituency, and the measures the state government is taking to ensure Sabah's food supply remains secure if fuel prices continue to rise. Jamawi stated that the ministry has established a special committee to monitor the impact of El Ni±o and the global geopolitical crisis on the state's agriculture sector.

He added that reports from the Malaysian Meteorological Department since January indicate that Sabah is expected to experience hot, dry weather over the coming months, which could impact agricultural output. Jamawi also mentioned that global developments have heightened food security concerns, with rice producers such as Vietnam and Thailand considering export limits to meet domestic demand.