PETALING JAYA: A total of 514 hotspots have been detected in Kalimantan and 176 in Sumatra, according to the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC).
Environment Department (DOE) deputy director-general Azuri Azizah Saedon, referencing the latest ASMC report, also said three hotspots have been detected domestically: one each in Johor, Sarawak and Terengganu.
She added that Sri Aman in Sarawak recorded a "very unhealthy" air pollutant index (API) reading as of 2pm on Friday (Aug 28) while 21 other locations nationwide continued recording unhealthy API readings.
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In Sarawak, affected locations are Serian (182), Kuching (157), Sarikei (159), Bintulu (120), Miri (116) and Sibu (101).
In Penang, they are Seberang Perai (158), Minden (158) and Seberang Jaya (164).
Meanwhile in Selangor, locations that recorded unhealthy API readings are Johan Setia (152), Shah Alam (152) and Petaling Jaya (126).
Locations in Perak that recorded unhealthy API readings are Taiping (155), Tasek Ipoh (150) and Tanjung Malim (104).
In Kuala Lumpur, impacted locations are Cheras (160) and Batu Muda (152), while Putrajaya recorded an API of 147.
In Kedah, Sungai Petani (154) and Alor Setar (151) had unhealthy API readings.
Very unhealthy API readings range between 201 to 300 while unhealthy APIs range between 101 and 200.
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"Deteriorating air quality along parts of Peninsular Malaysia’s West Coast as well as Sarawak is due to the movement of smoke plumes from various directions," she said in a statement.
She added that the DOE has increased enforcement and patrols at locations with a heightened risk of open burning, while also monitoring the API from time to time.
"The National Open Burning Action Plan and National Haze Action Plan have also been activated to coordinate government efforts," she said.
Azuri Azizah added that If API readings exceed 150 for more than 24 hours, the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) may activate the Disaster Management Committee.
In that event, the measures taken could include suspending outdoor activities, closing schools and childcare centres, and carrying out cloud seeding if necessary.
