PETALING JAYA: Haze conditions have worsened in Sarawak, with the number of areas recording hazardous Air Pollutant Index (API) readings increasing to five from three.
Five areas in Sarawak recorded hazardous API readings above 300 yesterday, up from three a day prior, with IPD Serian recording the country’s worst reading at 374.
According to the Environment Department’s Air Pollutant Index Management System (Apims), Kuching recorded 346, followed by Sarikei (333), Sibu (323) and Samarahan (318) as of 6pm.
Four other areas in the state recorded very unhealthy readings, with Sri Aman at 295, Bintulu (247), Mukah (241) and Samalaju (226).
Another four areas in Sarawak recorded unhealthy readings, namely ILP Miri (191), Miri (186), Kapit (185) and Limbang (173).
The current situation, however, remains well below Sarawak’s worst recorded haze episode in 1997, when Kuching’s API reached an unprecedented 839 on Sept 23.
The state also experienced hazardous air quality levels in 2019, with Miri recording an API reading of 442, prompting the closure of schools and businesses and the distribution of face masks.
In Sabah, six areas recorded unhealthy readings, with Kota Kinabalu at 177, followed by Labuan (171), Kinarut (165), Keningau (165), Politeknik Kota Kinabalu (161) and Tawau (154).
Only Johan Setia in Selangor recorded an unhealthy reading at 157.
A further 48 areas nationwide recorded moderate air quality, while two monitoring stations recorded good readings.
API readings of 0 to 50 indicate good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy and above 300 hazardous.
Under the National Haze Action Plan, disaster management committees will be activated if API readings exceed 150 for more than 24 hours.
Schools are required to stop outdoor activities when readings exceed 100, while schools, kindergartens and nurseries will be closed if readings exceed 200.
Cloud seeding may also be carried out when API readings remain above 150 for more than 24 hours, subject to suitable weather conditions.
Meanwhile, Environment Department (DOE) deputy director- general (Development) Azuri Azizah Saedon said the deteriorating haze conditions were mainly affecting Sarawak and parts of the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
She said satellite imagery on Aug 29 detected 1,180 hotspots in Kalimantan, 18 in Sumatra and 13 in Malaysia – nine in Sarawak, two in Perak and two in Sabah.
“Moderate to dense transboundary smoke plumes were detected in West Kalimantan moving northwards into western Sarawak.
“Moderate to dense haze was also observed in parts of Kalimantan, central Sarawak and central and southern Sumatra,” she said.
The Asean Secretariat activated a Level 3 Alert for the Southern Asean Region from Aug 27 following an increase in hotspots and worsening haze.
Azuri said the DOE had stepped up patrols and enforcement against open burning, particularly in forests, peatlands, agricultural and plantation areas, landfill sites and industrial areas.
She added that strict enforcement would be taken against any open burning activities or identified sources of air pollution.
She urged industries to reduce emissions in areas recording high or near-hazardous API readings to prevent further deterioration.
