Malaysia’s haze worsens as 29 areas record unhealthy API readings, with Selangor among the states most affected, DOE says
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 29 areas nationwide recorded Air Pollutant Index (API) readings at unhealthy levels as of 2 pm today, with Selangor recording the highest number of affected areas at six.
Department of Environment (DOE) Deputy Director-General (Development) Azuri Azizah Saedon said the deterioration in air quality was detected primarily in the states along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and several areas in Sarawak, following the movement of haze from various directions.
She said Johan Setia recorded the highest reading in Selangor at 173, followed by Shah Alam (162), Kuala Selangor (153), Petaling Jaya (152), Klang (151), and Banting (146).
In Perak, the affected areas were Tanjung Malim (157), Taiping (155), Tasek Ipoh (155), Pegoh Ipoh (153), and Seri Manjung (152), as well as Minden (156), Seberang Perai (152), and Balik Pulau (139) in Penang.
In Sarawak, Serian recorded the highest reading at 182, followed by Sri Aman (170), Kuching (160), Samarahan (156), and Sarikei (153).
Other areas recording unhealthy readings were Bukit Rambai (155) and Alor Gajah (152) in Melaka; Nilai (154) and Seremban (152) in Negeri Sembilan; Segamat, Batu Pahat, and Tangkak in Johor (152 each); Putrajaya (155); Batu Muda, Kuala Lumpur (154); and Sungai Petani, Kedah (153).
Azuri Azizah said moderate to dense transboundary haze was detected in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, moving northward towards the western part of Sarawak, while moderate to dense smoke plumes were also observed in other parts of Kalimantan as well as central and southern Sumatra.
“Light to moderate localised smoke plumes also originated from hotspots in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula, the Riau Islands, and Bangka-Belitung Island,” she said in a statement today.
According to her, a report by the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), based on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellite imagery on Aug 24, recorded 287 hotspots in Kalimantan, 65 in Sumatra and 11 in Malaysia.
The 11 hotspots detected in the country comprised eight in Sarawak, two in Johor, and one in Selangor.
Several air quality monitoring stations in West Kalimantan, western Sarawak, the western part of the Malaysian Peninsula, and southern and central Sumatra also recorded air quality levels ranging from unhealthy to very unhealthy.
Following the situation, DOE has intensified enforcement and daily patrols in areas prone to open burning, while continuously monitoring the API readings.
The National Open Burning Action Plan and the National Haze Action Plan have also been activated to coordinate efforts by government agencies to address open burning and haze.
The measures include preparations by the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) to activate the Disaster Management Committee if API readings exceed 150 for more than 24 hours.
Other measures include suspending outdoor activities, closing schools and childcare centres, and conducting cloud seeding operations where necessary.
The public can monitor the latest API readings through the DOE’s APIMS website or the MyJAS EQMS application.
