KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 — The haze isn’t expected to improve in the next three to five days, said the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).
Its National Weather and Earthquake Operations Centre (POCGN) senior director Maqrun Fadzli Mohd Fahmi said although rain is forecast in several areas, it is not yet able to restore broader air quality.
“From the information we have so far, we have not seen a major change in the situation. We expect the situation to remain almost the same and in the next few days, there will be a bit of rain instead of current dry conditions.
“We hope the rain will help, but if the air is very hazy, the little rain may not be able to remove the effects of the haze,” he said on Bernama TV’s Focus 15: Cross-Border Haze Threat.
Maqrun said the haze is worst in western and southern Sarawak, resulting in over 100 schools being closed in Serian yesterday.
He added that the Southwest Monsoon, which usually occurs from May to September, is exacerbating conditions with drier weather and less rain.
“When we don’t get much rain, the weather will be hotter, and this hot weather contributes to the risk of burning. From the burning, smoke and what we call haze are produced,” he said.
He also said MetMalaysia monitors hotspots via satellite imagery to identify forest fires, combining wind direction data to project smoke and particulate matter movement.
Maqrun also advised the public to avoid open burning and to stay indoors as much as possible to avoid health risks due to poor air quality.
As of this afternoon, data from the Malaysian Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal showed 10 areas with unhealthy readings — Johan Setia (Selangor), Samarahan, Serian, Kuching, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Mukah and Sibu (Sarawak), Cheras (Kuala Lumpur), and Minden (Penang).
