KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 — Ten areas recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 11am today, with seven of them in Sarawak, which recorded the highest readings.
Environment Department (DOE) deputy director-general (development) Azuri Azizah Saedon said the deterioration in Sarawak's air quality was caused by haze smoke moving in from various directions after significant hotspots were detected in Kalimantan and Sumatra, Indonesia.
Serian recorded the highest API reading at 182, followed by Kuching (171), Samarahan (170), Sri Aman (162), Sarikei (158), Bintulu (151), and Mukah (151).
“Also affected are Cheras in Kuala Lumpur with a reading of 153, while Johan Setia in Selangor recorded 151, and Shah Alam 107. Meanwhile, 55 areas recorded moderate API readings, while three were at the good level,” she said in a statement today.
The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre has detected 150 hotspots in Kalimantan and 11 in Sumatra, Indonesia, as well as 25 in Malaysia, comprising 22 in Sarawak and three in Sabah.
“Scattered hotspots were detected in Kalimantan, while several isolated hotspots were also detected in other parts of the southern ASEAN region, with moderate localised smoke plumes observed from hotspot clusters in many areas of Kalimantan and light localised smoke plumes from hotspots in central Sumatra,” Azuri said.
In response, the DOE has activated the National Open Burning Action Plan and National Haze Action Plan to coordinate immediate action by government agencies.
Under the PTJK, the Disaster Management Committee will be activated by the National Disaster Management Agency at the district, state, or central level if API readings exceed 150 for more than 24 hours.
“Meanwhile, all outdoor classroom activities must cease when API readings exceed 100, while schools, kindergartens, and nurseries will close immediately when readings exceed 200,” she said.
Cloud seeding operations will also be carried out, subject to suitable cloud and weather conditions, if API readings exceed 150 for more than 24 hours.
The DOE also warned the public against open burning or allowing fires to occur on their premises, with offenders facing fines of between RM25,000 and RM1 million, imprisonment of up to five years, or both under the Environmental Quality (Amendment) Act 2024.
Members of the public can obtain the latest hourly API readings via the DOE website or official MyJAS EQMS mobile app, while haze-related health advisories are available from the Health Ministry.
