
States in the thick of it
They are Nilai, Negri Sembilan, with an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 162, Banting and Johan Setia in Selangor with readings of 154, Putrajaya (139) and Alor Gajah, Melaka (110).
In addition, 57 areas across the country recorded moderate air quality levels, while six areas were reported to have good air quality.
An API reading of 0-50 is categorised as good; 51-100 as moderate; 101-200 as unhealthy; 201-300 as very unhealthy; and anything above 300 is hazardous.
DOE director-general Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffa said yesterday's deterioration in air quality was caused by haze drifting into Malaysia over the past 24 hours.
'No large scale fires have been detected within the country so far,' he said in a statement.
According to a July 19 report issued by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre in Singapore, satellite imagery from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration showed the presence of 65 hotspots in Sumatra, 30 in Kalimantan and four in Malaysia – with two each in Pahang and Selangor.
'Dry conditions were reported across the southern region of Peninsular Malaysia, as well as in Sumatra, Java, the Lesser Sunda Islands and southern Kalimantan,' Wan Abdul Latiff said.
'Isolated hotspots were detected in Sumatra, while a number of hotspots were also observed in Peninsular Malaysia, Kalimantan, Vietnam and Thailand.
'The DOE has stepped up enforcement operations and daily patrols in areas that are prone to open burning and continues to monitor API readings nationwide.'
Wan Abdul Latiff said the National Open Burning Action Plan and the National Haze Action Plan have both been activated to coordinate government agency efforts in tackling open burning and addressing the haze.
Landowners have been urged to closely monitor areas under their care, especially locations that are frequently affected by fires such as landfills, forests, peatlands, plantations, agricultural zones and industrial sites.
'They are advised to take precautionary measures to prevent trespassing by irresponsible parties that could lead to either intentional or accidental open burning,' he said.
He said that under the National Haze Action Plan, the National Disaster Management Agency will activate disaster management committees at the district, state or federal level when the API remains above 150 for more than 24 hours.
'All outdoor school activities must be suspended when the API exceeds 100. Schools, kindergartens and childcare centres are to be closed immediately if the API exceeds 200,' he said.
According to Wan Abdul Latiff, cloud seeding operations will be carried out if weather conditions are suitable and the API remains above 150 for more than 24 hours.
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Malay Mail
13 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Kuching air turns unhealthy as API hits 112, second worst in Malaysia after Johan Setia
KUCHING, July 25 — Air quality in Kuching has deteriorated to an unhealthy level, with the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading at 112 as of 2pm. The Department of Environment's (DoE) Air Pollution Index Management System (Apims) website showed Kuching had the second highest API reading in the country at 2pm after the 152 recorded in Johan Setia, Klang, Selangor. The API readings for other areas in the state were at moderate level, however Sri Aman (96) and Mukah (92) were hovering close to unhealthy level. An API reading of 51 to 100 is considered moderate, while API readings of 101 to 200 are categorised as unhealthy. This morning, data from the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) website showed Lundu registering an unhealthy API of 125 at 8am and the reading at 12pm improved slightly to 123. Based on yesterday's Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) findings, air quality in Sarawak is expected to deteriorate given the large number of hotspots due to open burning detected near and across the Sarawak-Kalimantan Barat border near Lundu. The ASMC Satellite also detected hotspots across several areas in Sarawak this week, particularly in the western and central regions. Clusters of hotspots were observed in Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, and Betong divisions, with more detected south of Sibu and scattered near Kapit. Smaller numbers appeared near Mukah and northeast of Bintulu. ASMC in its website reported that dry weather persisted over the southern Asean region, including Sarawak, and only a few isolated hotspots were detected in Sarawak and Sumatra, while scattered hotspots were observed in Kalimantan. — The Borneo Post


The Star
15 hours ago
- The Star
Haze: Selangor authorities ordered to step up checks at hotspots
LOCAL authorities in Selangor have been ordered to step up monitoring of hotspots for wildfires in the state in view of the current haze situation. Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the authorities had so far managed to put out three fires in Kuala Kubu Baru, Kajang and Sri Gombak. 'I have asked, during the state executive council meeting, for proactive actions to be taken. 'My concern is fire at peat soil areas, which may take more time and resources to put out,' he said when met at the Selangor Children's Book Fair 2025 in Shah Alam on Friday (July 25). Earlier today, media reported that Johan Setia in Klang became the first place in Selangor to hit an Air Pollutant Index (API) of 152 by 10am, which was above the unhealthy threshold (100). On Thursday, state public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said parents were allowed to excuse their children from school due to the worsening haze. She also said schools were not to carry out outdoor activities if the API reading exceeded 100 and would be ordered to close if it went over 200.


New Straits Times
18 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Transboundary haze: School closures, cloud seeding part of action plan
KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Environment (DoE) has activated the National Open Burning Action Plan and the National Haze Action Plan to coordinate multi-agency government efforts in addressing open burning and the risk of transboundary haze. DoE director-general Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar said the activation of the plans would allow for early enforcement and monitoring, following the re-emergence of hotspots both domestically and abroad. He said the National Haze Action Plan provides for a range of responses based on the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings, including the activation of the National Disaster Management Committee by the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) if the API exceeds 150 for more than 24 hours. "Schools, kindergartens and nurseries will be closed immediately if the API exceeds 200, while early preparations will be made if readings show an increasing trend towards that level. "In addition, cloud seeding operations (OPA) will be carried out if the API remains above 150 for over 24 hours, subject to the availability of clouds and suitable weather conditions," he said today. As of July 23, monitoring by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) detected 91 hotspots in Kalimantan, 42 in Sumatra, and 13 within Malaysia including 11 in Sarawak and one in Pahang and Terengganu. "The Regional Haze Map released by ASMC on July 24 showed that dry weather continues across most parts of Southeast Asia, except for a few areas in northern Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia which experienced rainfall," he added. Wan Abdul Latiff said satellite imagery indicated the presence of localised smoke plumes originating from hotspots in central and southern Sumatra, western and southern Kalimantan, and Sarawak. "Accordingly, the DoE has intensified patrols and enforcement in high-risk areas and continues to monitor API readings closely," he said. He also urged all landowners to closely monitor their premises to prevent trespassing or any activities that could trigger open burning, whether intentional or not. "At the same time, the DoE advises the public to comply with directives and restrictions during haze episodes, including refraining from open burning that could worsen air quality. "Anyone found guilty of open burning can be prosecuted under Section 29(A) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, which carries a maximum fine of RM1 million, imprisonment of up to five years, or both," he said. He added that compounds of up to 50 per cent of the maximum fine may also be issued for each offence. Abdul Latiff also encouraged the public to extinguish small fires when possible and to immediately report any incidents to the Fire and Rescue Department at 999 or to the DoE at 1-800-88-2727. "Real-time API readings are available on or via the MyJAS EQMS app on Google Play and the App Store. he added.