PETALING JAYA: Air quality in Sarawak showed signs of improvement, with the number of areas recording hazardous Air Pollutant Index (API) readings falling to two.
IPD Serian recorded the country’s worst reading at 329, followed by Kuching at 312, according to the Environment Depart-ment’s (DOE) Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) as of 6pm yesterday.
However, four other areas still recorded very unhealthy readings – Samarahan (287), Sarikei (257), Sri Aman (253) and Sibu (243).
Seven more areas recorded unhealthy readings, including Mukah (200), Bintulu (190), Kapit (190), Samalaju (171), Limbang (167), ILP Miri (167) and Miri (164).
In Sabah, Politeknik Kota Kinabalu recorded the highest unhealthy reading at 178, followed by Keningau (174), Kota Kinabalu (172), Labuan (172), Kimanis (171), Sandakan (145) and Tawau (102).
In the peninsula, Johan Setia in Selangor recorded an unhealthy reading of 159, followed by Nilai (151), Seremban (115) and Putrajaya (149).
Another 44 areas nationwide recorded moderate air quality.
An API of 0 to 50 is classified as good, with 51 to 100 considered moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, while anything above 300 is hazardous.
Under the National Haze Action Plan, the National Disaster Management Agency will activate disaster management committees if the API exceeds 150 for more than 24 hours.
Cloud-seeding operations may also be carried out when API readings remain above 150 for more than 24 hours, subject to suitable weather and cloud conditions.
DOE deputy director-general (Development) Azuri Azizah Saedon said the haze was being influenced by smoke moving in from several directions.
She said satellite imagery on Sept 1 detected 980 hotspots in Kalimantan, 134 in Sumatra and four from Sarawak.
“Moderate to dense transboundary haze was observed over northern Borneo, while moderate to dense smoke plumes were also detected from hotspot clusters in other parts of Kalimantan and southern and central Sumatra,” she said in a statement.
The Asean Secretariat has maintained a Level 3 Alert for the Southern Asean Region, which was activated on Aug 27 following increased hotspot activity and worsening haze.
In Sarawak, patrols are being carried out in high-risk areas, including forests, peatlands, agricultural and plantation areas, landfills and industrial sites.
“Strict and immediate enforcement action will be taken against any open burning activities or identified sources of pollution, in accordance with existing laws,” said Azuri.
She also urged industries in areas where API readings exceed 300 to reduce emissions from major sources to prevent further deterioration of air quality.
