Latest news with #haze
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Climate
- Malay Mail
Clearer skies for Malaysia as DOE reports improved air quality nationwide
ISKANDAR PUTERI, July 23 — Air quality across Malaysia has improved, with no locations reporting unhealthy levels on the Air Pollutant Index (API) as of this morning, according to the Department of Environment. Its director-general, Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar, said that at 9am, 66 out of 68 air quality monitoring stations recorded 'moderate' air quality, while the remaining two recorded 'good' readings. 'Based on these readings, no stations have recorded any unhealthy air quality,' he told reporters. 'This improvement is a positive development amid concerns over recurring haze and dry weather in parts of the country and the region.' Wan Abdul Latiff was speaking after the conclusion of the 14th emergency simulation exercise under the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment (MSJCE) at the Second Link crossing here today. Despite the overall positive readings, Wan Abdul Latiff said the DOE has detected several hotspots in Sabah, Sarawak, and Pahang. He said the department will closely observe these hotspots through 24-hour monitoring to ensure early detection and intervention. 'DOE personnel will increase their patrols, especially in high-risk areas such as plantations, peatlands, secondary forests, and landfill sites,' he said. He also issued a stern warning that the DOE will not hesitate to take action under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 against any individuals or parties who conduct open burning, which he identified as a main contributor to haze in the country. Malaysia has been experiencing increased air pollution recently, with nine areas in the country reporting unhealthy levels on Monday. Under the API system, readings of 0-50 are categorised as 'good,' 51-100 as 'moderate,' 101-200 as 'unhealthy,' 201-300 as 'very unhealthy,' and any reading above 300 is considered 'hazardous.'
CNA
18 hours 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
a day ago
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
9 areas record unhealthy air pollutant readings as of 3pm
The haze situation in Seremban today. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Nine areas in Peninsular Malaysia recorded unhealthy air pollutant index levels as of 3pm today. According to the environment department's Air Pollutant Index Management System portal, Alor Gajah in Melaka recorded the highest API reading at 157, followed by Seremban in Negeri Sembilan (155) and Kemaman in Terengganu (153), Bernama reported. Johan Setia (Klang) in Selangor, Temerloh in Pahang and Balok Baru in Kuantan each recorded an API reading of 152. Nilai in Negeri Sembilan registered a reading of 138, Banting in Selangor recorded 135 and Cheras in Kuala Lumpur recorded 132. API readings of between 101 and 200 are categorised as unhealthy and may affect high-risk groups such as the elderly, children and those with respiratory conditions. In an earlier statement, the department advised the public to limit outdoor activities, wear face masks when outdoors and seek immediate treatment if they experience shortness of breath or respiratory issues. The latest API readings are available at
Free Malaysia Today
a day 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.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Climate
- Free Malaysia Today
Putrajaya among 5 areas with unhealthy air quality
Five areas in the peninsula recorded unhealthy API readings as of 3pm today, and 57 areas recorded moderate air quality. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Air quality in parts of Selangor and Negeri Sembilan has worsened, with Putrajaya also breaching unhealthy levels, according to the Air Pollutant Index (API) from the environment department. Environment department director-general Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaafar said the API reading in Putrajaya reached 139 as at 3pm, while the reading in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, crept up to 162 from 156 recorded at 9am. In Selangor, the API reading in Banting increased from 151 to 154, but it dropped minimally in Johan Setia (Klang) from 155 to 154, within the same period. In Alor Gajah, Melaka, the API reading reached 110. The data, from the environment department's air pollutant index management system, represents an average of readings taken over 24 hours, 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. Wan Abdul Latiff said 57 areas recorded moderate air quality and six areas registered good air quality. He said the air quality deterioration 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. According to the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) in Singapore, satellite images from yesterday showed 65 hotspots in Sumatra, 30 in Kalimantan and four in Malaysia – two each in Pahang and Selangor. Wan Abdul Latiff said ASMC's regional haze map today showed wind blowing southwest, with no major haze plumes observed. 'Dry conditions were reported across southern Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, the Lesser Sunda Islands and southern Kalimantan. 'Isolated hotspots were detected in Sumatra, with several more in Peninsular Malaysia, Kalimantan, Vietnam and Thailand,' he said.
