Immigrants set the peat forest on fire to clear land for agriculture purposes in Kampung Johan Setia, Klang.

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government is looking for some 200 immigrants who were behind the peat forest fire at Kampung Johan Setia in Klang.

State tourism, consumer affairs and environment committee chairman Elizabeth Wong said the immigrants have been identified as the culprits after a meeting with local government agencies including the state environment department (DoE), irrigation and drainage department and Klang land office.

Wong said checks by the DoE revealed that the fire was caused by the immigrants who set fire to the forest to clear land for agriculture purposes.

She said the DoE was working with the immigration department to arrest the immigrants, who had made the peat forest their home.

"We understand that the forest covers some 140ha. It is going to be quite a handful rounding up the immigrants.

"But, I'm sure with the help of other local enforcement agencies such as the police, Rela and Kajang municipal council enforcement officers, we can catch them," she said.

The meeting held at the state DoE office in Shah Alam was to discuss preventive measures to stop the open burning incidents at the Kampung Johan Setia peat forest.

Wong added that the DoE was also working with the Global Environment Centre, which has the expertise to deal with peat forest fires.

The Klang land office, too, has been instructed to identify the owners of the land where the immigrants are staying.

"Since the land owners failed to stop the open burning on their land, action can be taken against them as well.

"We will take action against those found to be involved, directly or otherwise, in the open burning activity," she added.

Meanwhile, Selangor DoE director Che Asmah Ibrahim said an air quality mobile unit has been stationed at Kampung Johan Setia to monitor the level of air quality.

"The open burning has stopped, for now, after several enforcement operations were carried out.

"However, the immigrant's activities of clearing the land for cash crop cultivation by burning the forest will not stop until they are caught."

Reports on the DoE website revealed that the air quality index in Port Klang has dropped.

The Air Pollutant Index reading in the area was 100 (moderate) last week.