6/9/06 (Daily Express News)  -  OIL palm plantations in Sabah are no longer carrying out open burning, CM Datuk Seri Musa said.

"We do not allow them to burn anymore," he said, and hoped plantation companies in the neighbouring Kalimantan would do likewise to prevent haze. Musa said haze created by open burning especially in Kalimantan, Indonesia, was not a new issue.

"The best thing for us is to educate the people to ensure not to do open burning." According to Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board, Controller of Environmental Quality, Robert Chong the air pollution index had reduced to 50 at many places.

Meanwhile, the Sabah Government had regulated the number of divers into Pulau Sipadan and stopped illegal divers from coming in.

Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat said the State Government took over in April and regulate the number to 120 divers per day.

To a question, he said previously the number of divers coming into Pulau Sipadan exceeded the limit set by the Government.