Latest news with #Sumatra
Malay Mail
20 hours ago
- Climate
- Malay Mail
King advises public to protect health amid rising haze levels
KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 — His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysiam has advised the public to remain vigilant amid the current dry weather conditions which could increase the risk of fires and haze. His Majesty said the situation could also affect health, particularly among children, the elderly and individuals with respiratory problems. 'The public is advised to take care of their health and monitor the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings from time to time. This is because the hot and dry weather can cause fires to spread rapidly,' His Majesty said in a statement uploaded to the Facebook page of Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar. His Majesty also decreed that the authorities intensify patrols and monitoring of any open burning activities that could affect the country's air quality. The country is currently experiencing haze, believed to be caused by open burning following the detection of several hotspots in Sumatra, Indonesia, as reported by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia). Department of Environment Director-General Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar was reported as saying today that 66 out of 68 air quality monitoring stations nationwide recorded moderate air quality levels as of 9 am. He said the remaining two stations recorded good air quality readings. — Bernama
Khaleej Times
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Andaliman Dubai is your ticket to Indonesian fare
There are many elements that must come together to give you the authentic taste of a place. The flavour that will indiscriminately transport you to the spot on the globe where the recipes were first concocted. These creations may have been the result of an accident or serendipity when the first ships sailed the world, or a calculated experiment (such as the Nasi Goreng, which was adapted from Chinese fried rice to meet local tastes). At Andaliman in One Za'abeel, the notes that stay on your tongue as you dive into opulent dishes from Indonesia are a fusion of old and new centred around the staple of Sumatran pepper, known for its citrusy notes. (The number of sambals or Indonesian chili sauce available here is impressive.) We began our binge with makanan pembuka (appetisers) like Pastel Ayam (Dh68), which is an Indonesian 'empanada'. The pastry's pocket is filled with chicken, glass noodles, ear mushroom, and vegetables, and it's served with a sambal that packs heat and hints of sourness. We also go the Pangsit Kukus Sayur Edamame (58), which is a freshly-made chestnut, edamame and spinach dumpling with sambal colo-colo and spring onion and garlic-chili dip. It wouldn't be an Indonesian feast without the famous beef rendang (Dh158), so of course we had to try it. Wrapped in a banana leaf, the braised Australian Angus beef cheek was cooked to perfection and served on a bed of rice. Surprisingly filling, it came with a side of gravy and green chilly sambal (for those who like a little extra heat). The sweet something that ended the meal was called Es Kopyor (Dh48). A roll up using hibiscus sago, lemongrass sorbet, coconut and lime gel, and crisp coconut flesh. The vibrant greens that painted the walls were a reminder of the lush greenery of the tropics and the flowy fabrics of the curtains as they danced in the wind offered up an island holiday vibe. Step out of the restaurant itself and you'll find yourself on a path that looks part meditative space, part relaxed cabana, and all constructed in a way that ensures private chats stay private. If poolside moments are more your thing, you can while away your day on a sun lounger by the pool which glistens in emerald hues as sun rays dapple on the surface of the water, through the leaves that ensconce the space. As you unwind, call on the helpful staff of Andaliman for a signature beverage – these mixed drinks are often made with the same island vibe in mind – colourful and creative, with just a little hint of spice.
CNA
2 days ago
- Climate
- CNA
Singapore not affected by transboundary haze despite surge in Sumatra hotspots: NEA
SINGAPORE: Singapore has not been impacted by transboundary haze despite a spike in the number of forest and land fires in Indonesia's Sumatra, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Tuesday (Jul 22). In response to queries from CNA, NEA said that this was due to favourable wind conditions. "Based on satellite observations, smoke plumes were detected in the southern and central parts of Sumatra in recent days," the agency said. "As the prevailing winds are mostly blowing from the southeast over Singapore and the vicinity, Singapore has not been affected by transboundary haze." Dry conditions in the region are, however, expected to persist until the end of the week before wetter conditions return and possibly improve the regional hotspot and haze situation, NEA added. The agency said that the ongoing dry season in the southern Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region is expected to last until October. "During this period, dry conditions may occur over the region," said NEA. "The hotspot and smoke haze situation may escalate at times, and depending on prevailing wind conditions, increase the risk of transboundary haze affecting Singapore." If transboundary haze affects Singapore, NEA said that the government's inter-agency Haze Task Force – comprising 28 government ministries and agencies – will activate the necessary action plans to mitigate and manage the impact of the haze, should the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index enter the unhealthy range. "Tiered measures will be implemented depending on the intensity of the haze, along with advisories to the public," the agency added. Sumatra reported a total of 1,292 hotspots on Monday, a jump from 94 on Jul 12. Hotspots, which appear on satellite images, represent areas where there are high levels of heat – possibly as a result of forest or land fires. Within the region, Riau province has been the worst hit by fires in forests and peatlands, with a total of 582 hotspots reported on Monday. This is up from 38 hotspots reported on Jul 12. In an advisory on Jul 19 regarding transboundary haze, the Malaysian Meteorological Department, MetMalaysia, said that hotspots in Sumatra captured by satellite imagery last Friday and reported by the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre could have contributed to haze carried by southwesterly winds. It stated that the haze was affecting several states on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, with the agency not expecting any changes in weather or wind direction that could reduce its impact over the coming days.
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Climate
- Free Malaysia Today
Air quality at unhealthy levels in 8 areas
Indonesia is set to begin cloud seeding operations in Riau province today, to combat escalating forest and land fires which are causing haze to drift into parts of Malaysia. (AP pic) PETALING JAYA : Air quality in several parts of Peninsular Malaysia reached unhealthy levels over the past 24 hours, as escalating forest and land fires in Sumatra caused smoke haze to drift into parts of Malaysia Alor Gajah in Melaka was the worst affected, with an average air pollutant index reading of 160 at 9am, with similar levels in Temerloh, Pahang (156); Banting, Selangor (155); Nilai, Negeri Sembilan (155); Kemaman, Terengganu (153); Johan Setia, Selangor (152); Cheras, Kuala Lumpur (151); and Putrajaya (124). Moderate air quality was reported in 57 areas. The data, from the environment department's air pollutant index management system, represents an average of readings taken over 24 hours and updated hourly. An index figure of below 50 indicates good air quality, 51-100 moderate, 101-200 unhealthy, 201-300 very unhealthy, and above 300 hazardous. Indonesia is set to begin cloud seeding operations in Riau province today, to combat escalating forest and land fires which are causing haze to drift into parts of Malaysia, reported Reuters. A spokesman for Indonesia's national disaster mitigation agency said the operation would continue for at least seven days. Data from Indonesia's meteorology, climatology and geophysics agency indicated 1,208 fire hotspots across Sumatra as of Sunday, with 586 located in Riau alone. Indonesian broadcaster Metro TV reported that haze from these fires has already reached parts of Malaysia. Environment department director-general Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaafar yesterday said the deterioration in air quality was influenced by the movement of smoke and haze entering the west coast region of the country over the past 24 hours. 'No large-scale fires in the country have been detected,' he said.
CNA
3 days ago
- Climate
- CNA
Indonesia's Sumatra sees 14-fold spike in fire hotspots over 1.5 weeks, as Malaysia warns of haze
JAKARTA: Indonesia's Sumatra island has seen a sharp spike in forest and land fires, with the number of hotspots jumping from 94 to more than 1,000 within 10 days. A total of 1,292 hotspots were detected in the region, according to a report by Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency BMKG on Monday (Jul 21). Hotspots are satellite images with high infrared intensity, indicating sources of high heat, such as forest and land fires. Within the region, Riau province has been the worst hit by fires in forests and peatlands, with a total of 582 hotspot detections. This is up from 38 hotspots reported on Jul 12. 'The trend (of number of hotspots) is increasing because Riau is entering the peak of the dry season and the intensity of rain and cloud growth is decreasing,' Irwan Nasution, coordinator of BMKG Riau province, told CNA. The Rokan Hilir regency and North Sumatra province were also badly hit by blazes, with 244 and 236 blazes detected in the areas respectively, according to the Jul 21 report by BMKG. Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said it will also be carrying out cloud-seeding to fight the forest fires in Riau from Jul 21 to Jul 27. Abdul Muhari, the head of the BNPB's Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center said that additional measures, such as a water-bombing helicopter and an air patrol to monitor the fires will also be deployed to Riau as part of the cloud-seeding and fire mitigation efforts, according to a report on the agency's website. Indonesia's fires are usually a result of slash-and-burn techniques being deployed to clear land for subsequent crops, as well as the dry season exacerbating the situation. The forest and peatland fires are a primary cause for the recurring issue of transboundary haze, which is an annual problem for Indonesia and its neighbours, including Singapore, Malaysia and southern Thailand. According to the ASEAN Specialised Monitoring Centre, dry conditions were observed over most parts of the southern ASEAN region from Jul 20. Aside from parts of northern Sumatra, hotspots were also detected in parts of Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. The Malaysian Meteorological Department, MetMalaysia, released an advisory on Jul 19 regarding the transboundary haze. It said that hotspots in Sumatara captured by satellite imagery last Friday and reported by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre could have contributed to the haze carried by south-westerly winds. It stated that the haze was affecting several states on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, with the agency not expecting any changes in weather or wind direction that could reduce its impact over the coming days. On Monday morning, eight locations in Malaysia recorded air pollutant index readings above the unhealthy range of 100. The worst hit was Alor Gajah in Melaka, with a reading of 160.
