PETALING JAYA: Sarawak continues to bear the brunt of the haze, with Sri Aman recording a very unhealthy API reading of 208 at 8pm yesterday.
According to the Air Pollutant Index Management System, the latest readings showed 11 other areas in Sarawak recording unhealthy API levels, including Samarahan (197), Samalaju (194), Bintulu and Mukah (188 each), Kuching (184), IPD Serian (187), Sarikei (184), ILP Miri (175), Sibu (171), Miri (168) and Limbang (156).
Department of Environment (DOE) deputy director-general (Development) Azuri Azizah Saedon said the situation is occurring amid persistent dry weather in parts of the southern Asean region.
She added that based on the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) report dated Sept 5, a total of 558 hotspots were detected in the region, including one in Malaysia.
“Of the total, one hotspot was detected in Perak, Malaysia, 184 detected in Kalimantan and 373 in Sumatra,” she said in a statement yesterday.
She added that the department is closely monitoring fires reported in scrubland and peatland areas near Jalan Sibujaya Barat in Mukah and Sungai Nai in Daro, Sarawak, given the higher risk of fires during hot, dry weather.
She said fires involving vegetation and peatland can produce smoke and pollutant emissions that affect local air quality if not brought under control.
The Sarawak DOE will continue to monitor developments at both locations, including assessing their potential impact on air quality, she said.
In Selangor, Johan Setia recorded an unhealthy API reading of 179, followed by Shah Alam (168), Kuala Selangor (158), Petaling Jaya (157), Klang (156) and Banting (155).
In Negri Sembilan, Nilai recorded 167, followed by Seremban (164) and Port Dickson (125), while Jerantut and Temerloh in Pahang recorded 167 and 160, respectively.
In Johor, Segamat (159), Tangkak (150) and Batu Pahat (129) recorded unhealthy readings, while Sabah, Kota Kinabalu recorded 156, followed by Kimanis (151).
Other affected areas included Putrajaya (162); Batu Muda (164) and Cheras (162) in Kuala Lumpur; Labuan (155); Tanjung Malim in Perak (155); and Alor Gajah and Bukit Rambai in Melaka (154 each).
Azuri Azizah said moderate to dense transboundary smoke plumes were observed over northern Borneo.
“Moderate to dense smoke plumes were also observed originating from clusters of hotspots detected across many areas in Kalimantan as well as central and southern Sumatra.
“Similarly, moderate haze was also observed in Singapore and parts of southern Peninsular Malaysia,” she said.
