SHAH ALAM, Aug 28 — Johan Setia, Shah Alam and Petaling Jaya still have unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as the haze causes deteriorating air quality nationwide.
As of 4pm, Johan Setia and Shah Alam have API readings of 152, while Petaling Jaya logged 129, while 17 other localities nationwide also had unhealthy API readings.
Sri Aman in Sarawak is the only area in Malaysia with a very unhealthy reading of 215, and Jerantut in Pahang is the only locality with a good reading of 50.
In a statement, Environment Department (DOE) deputy director-general (development) Azuri Azizah Saedon said deteriorating air quality was observed mainly in several areas along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.
“Air quality in the country today was found to have deteriorated, with several areas on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak recording unhealthy API readings, influenced by the movement of haze from various directions,” she said.
Azuri said the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), based in Singapore, detected 514 hotspots in Kalimantan and 176 in Sumatra based on satellite imagery from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) yesterday.
Three hotspots were also detected in Malaysia, with one each in Johor, Sarawak and Terengganu.
Citing the ASMC regional haze map dated today, Azuri said it showed persistent dry weather across most parts of the southern ASEAN region, although several areas in Peninsular Malaysia, northeastern Borneo and northern Sumatra experienced rain.
She said moderate to thick haze was observed over western Borneo, while moderate to thick smoke plumes were detected over parts of Kalimantan and central and southern Sumatra.
Azuri said several air quality monitoring stations in parts of Kalimantan, western Sarawak, western Peninsular Malaysia and central and southern Sumatra have recorded unhealthy to hazardous readings.
“DOE has increased enforcement efforts and daily patrol activities in areas with potential for open burning, while continuously monitoring API readings from time to time,” she said.
She added the National Open Burning Action Plan and National Haze Action Plan had been activated to coordinate government agencies’ response to open burning and the haze situation.
Azuri also urged landowners to monitor areas prone to fires, including landfill sites, forests, peatland, and agricultural and industrial areas, and take preventive measures against unauthorised access that could lead to open burning.
Under the National Haze Action Plan, the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) will activate disaster management committees at district, state or federal levels if API readings exceed 150 for more than 24 hours.
It will also mean that schools, preschools and childcare centres will cease all outdoor activities when API readings exceed 100 and will be closed if readings exceed 200.
Azuri also said preparations should be made for closures if unhealthy API readings start increasing to the very unhealthy 200 threshold.
She said cloud seeding would also be carried out, subject to suitable cloud and weather conditions, if API readings exceeded 150 for more than 24 hours.
The public has been advised to monitor hourly API readings on the DOE website or the MyJAS EQMS app, while health advice and preventive measures during haze can be obtained from the Health Ministry (MOH) website.
She also reminded people not to perform open burning or allow their land or premises to be accessed by irresponsible parties for such activities.
Under the Environmental Quality (Amendment) Act 2024, the penalty for open burning offences has been increased to a minimum fine of RM25,000 and a maximum of RM1 million, five years in prison, or both.
She urged people to help put out small fires and report cases of open burning or fires to the Fire and Rescue Department at 999 or DOE at its toll-free line 1-800-88-2727.
