The police are ready to assist the Department of Environment (DOE) if there are requests to curb open burning activities in the country.

Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador said so far however, there have been no arrests on such activities.

"We will take action when there is clear evidence they have broken the law," he told reporters after the launching of the foreign policy framework of the new Malaysia by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Putrajaya today.

Hamid said this when asked if the police would take action against those who carried out open burning as several hotspots were detected in this country.

On Sept 11, DOE imposed a ban on open burning in the whole country except for cremation, religious purposes, grilling/barbecue and flaring until the end of the South-West Monsoon period.

DOE director-general Norlin Jaafar issued the order in view of the haze that has enveloped the country since Sept 5. 

The South-West Monsoon prevails from May to September.

The ban has been imposed in accordance with the powers vested with the director-general of Environmental Quality as per section 29AA (2) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974.

- Bernama