Klang API reaches unhealthy level

PUTRAJAYA: Air quality in Port Klang hit the “unhealthy” level yesterday when the Air Pollutant Index (API) reached 115.

The air quality in Sungai Petani and Sri Aman, however, recorded an improvement from API readings of 106 and 117 respectively on Tuesday to a moderate 63 and 74 yesterday.

Other places with moderate API included Seri Manjung (67), Tanjung Malim (61) Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur (63) and Cheras (62). Petaling Jaya and Perai saw readings of 58.

Natural Resources and Environ­ment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said satellite imagery by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admini­stration detected 32 hotspots in Sumatra and 48 in Kalimantan on Tuesday.

He said there were also 15 hotspots detected in the country with Pahang having eight followed by Sarawak (three), Selangor (two) and one each in Sabah and Negri Sembilan.

On instances of open burning this year, he said there had been 4,431 cases locally since January.

“Of this, 903 are in forested areas, 1,436 on agricultural land and 1,014 in bush areas.

“Others are 833 cases of small open burning incidents, 137 in construction areas, 870 at dump sites and 34 in industrial areas,” he said.

Palanivel said 45 investigation papers were opened and compound notices sent to those involved in 324 open burning cases while warning notices were sent out in 115 other cases.