Air quality getting worse in Malacca

KUALA LUMPUR: The air quality continues to deteriorate with two more areas in Malacca registering an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of unhealthy as at 7pm yesterday.

The Department of Environment (DOE) portal reported that Melaka City recorded an API reading of 109 (unhealthy), Bukit Rambai in Malacca (104), Kuching (105) and Samarahan (112) in Sarawak.

Meanwhile, 33 areas recorded an API reading of moderate, including Larkin Lama, Johor (73); Port Klang (84) and Banting (88) in Selangor as well as Putrajaya (83). The API for Batu Muda and Cheras in Kuala Lumpur also rose from 66 at 9am to 73 and 74 respectively.

In 14 other areas, the API reading was good, including Alor Setar, Kedah (43); Kangar, Perlis (38); Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (27); Tanah Merah, Kelantan (21) and Labuan still at 19.

Meanwhile the “KL Heli Tour and Charter” programme, which was launched here for tourists to view the capital city from the air, was cancelled due to the haze.

The 10-minute flight, organised by Hop On Holidays and which was supposed to start at noon from Taman Tasik Titiwangsa to Batu Caves, was not given the green light by the Department of Civil Aviation at the last minute because of the haze.

The programme, which charges between RM588 to RM4,350, had encouraging support from 39 passengers comprising locals who had made their reservations since a month ago.

Hop-On Holidays managing director Roslan Mohd Rashid said those who had made their reservations could fly today if the weather improved.

“The programme which will be held every day from yesterday, offers four ‘KL City Tour’ packages depending on the duration of the ride, varying from 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes and one hour, and depending on the type of helicopter,” he said.

Roslan said the four types of helicopters used were Eurocopter 120B, Augusta 119MK1, Bell 429 VIP and Augusta 350B2.