SHAH ALAM, Aug 10 — Selangor will continue to monitor the haze situation from time to time, particularly in areas recording unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings.
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said appropriate measures would be taken if API readings reached unhealthy levels, based on advice from the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) and the Selangor Health Department (JKNS).
"We will assess the situation when the API reaches an unhealthy level and take the necessary measures as advised by MetMalaysia and JKNS.
"The Health Ministry is an important agency that will provide advice. If the API exceeds 100, we will take further action to address the situation," he said.
Amirudin was speaking to the media after the launch and presentation of offers for the Selangor State Research and Innovation Grant at the State Secretariat Building today.
He added that the haze situation over the past two to three days had been relatively poor, with API readings, including in Johan Setia, being high.
"In Johan Setia, apart from its location and so on, there may have been burning and other factors, but there have also always been such areas elsewhere.
"However, the situation is not as bad as when we previously had to declare a haze emergency...we will monitor the situation through the Environment Department," Amirudin said.
On contingency plans should API readings reach unhealthy levels during the 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA), the Menteri Besar said the authorities would first have to wait and assess the latest situation.
"We will wait for the API readings first. If they are unhealthy, we will wait for the ministry's advice. As for planning, we need to wait for the API to be available first and see what happens.
"If it does not happen, how can we act like bomohs and cancel SUKMA tomorrow because of the haze? We cannot," he said.
Yesterday, eight areas in Sarawak and one in Selangor recorded unhealthy API readings as of 6pm, according to the Air Pollutant Index Management System.
In Sarawak, three new areas — Miri (119), Sarikei (152), and Sri Aman (154) — recorded unhealthy levels yesterday afternoon due to transboundary haze, bringing the total to eight areas, up from five in the morning.
The five areas that had previously recorded unhealthy readings were Kuching (156), Samarahan (157), Serian (169), Bintulu (154), and Samalaju (152).
In Peninsular Malaysia, Johan Setia in Selangor was the only area recording an unhealthy level, with an API reading of 153.
