SHAH ALAM, Aug 8 — The Environment Department (DOE) has detected two hotspots in Selangor as air quality in several parts of the country begins to deteriorate following the movement of transboundary haze.
Satellite imagery from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) yesterday recorded 25 hotspots in Malaysia, comprising 22 in Sarawak, two in Selangor, and one in Terengganu.
Simultaneously, hotspots were detected in Indonesia: 643 in Kalimantan and 17 in Sumatra, which have been identified as among the sources of haze movement in the region.
As of 8am today, the DOE reported that three areas recorded good air quality, 60 areas recorded moderate air quality, and five areas recorded unhealthy levels, all in Sarawak.
The five areas were Serian IPD (with an Air Pollution Index or API of 171), Kuching (at 154), Samarahan (at 154), Sri Aman (at 139), and Bintulu (at 124).
"The DOE has intensified enforcement activities and daily patrols in areas with a potential risk of open burning.
"The National Open Burning Action Plan and the National Haze Action Plan (PTJK) have been activated to coordinate action among all relevant agencies," it said in a statement.
Under the PTJK, several measures will be implemented if the API readings continue to rise, including:
The Disaster Management Committee will be activated if the API exceeds 150 for more than 24 hours.
All outdoor classroom activities will be suspended when the API exceeds 100.
Schools, kindergartens and nurseries will be closed if the API exceeds 200.
Cloud Seeding Operations (OPA) will be considered when the API exceeds 150 for more than 24 hours, subject to weather conditions.
The DOE also advised landowners to monitor fire-prone areas such as forests, peatlands, landfill sites, plantations, and industrial areas, and to avoid any open burning.
The public is also encouraged to monitor API readings via the MyJAS EQMS website and application and to seek health advice from the Health Ministry.
Under the Environmental Quality (Amendment) Act 2024, individuals who commit open burning may be fined a minimum of RM25,000 and up to RM1 million, or imprisoned for up to five years, or both.
