PETALING JAYA: Two areas recorded unhealthy air quality levels as isolated hotspots continued to be detected across Sumatra, Indonesia, as well as parts of Sabah and Sarawak.
As of 6pm yesterday, Johan Setia in Selangor recorded an air pollutant index (API) of 151 while Kuching in Sarawak registered a reading of 116.
Another 61 monitoring stations, including those in Batu Muda (Kuala Lumpur), Petaling Jaya (Selangor), Tanjung Malim (Perak) and Seri Aman (Sarawak), reported moderate API readings.
The API scale classifies air quality as follows: 0–50 (good), 51–100 (moderate), 101–200 (unhealthy), 201–300 (very unhealthy) and above 300 (hazardous).
Regionally, most of the southern Asean region experienced dry and cloudy conditions yesterday, with showers only in parts of central and northern Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia.
The Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) reported scattered hotspots in Kalimantan, with isolated ones in Sumatra, Sabah and Sarawak.
Localised smoke plumes were also observed in Sarawak and Kalimantan.
“Hotspot activity in the region remains subdued,” said the ASMC.
Looking ahead, dry weather is expected to continue over much of southern Asean, except in parts of Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia and southern and eastern Kalimantan, where rain is forecast.
“While showers may ease fire and haze activity, isolated hotspots and smoke plumes could still develop in fire-prone areas experiencing prolonged dryness. There is also a risk of transboundary haze,” said the ASMC, adding that prevailing winds are expected to blow from the southeast to south.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that the Department of Environment (DOE) has carried out 4,184 ground patrols and 645 drone flights since the beginning of the year to monitor open-burning activities that may contribute to haze.
Its director-general Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar said during the same period, the department has issued 58 notices of instruction, initiated 27 court actions and imposed 59 compounds on parties found guilty of offences related to open burning.
“The DOE has intensified enforcement actions and daily patrols in areas with high potential for open burning while continuously monitoring the API readings,” he said in a statement.
Wan Abdul Latiff added that the National Open Burning Action Plan and the National Haze Action Plan have been activated to coordinate government agency efforts in addressing open burning and managing the country’s haze situation.
“All landowners are advised to closely monitor areas prone to fire such as landfills, forests, peatlands, plantations, agricultural zones and industrial sites.
“They must also take proactive steps to prevent trespassing by irresponsible parties, which could lead to open burning, either deliberately or unintentionally,” he said.
