JOHOR BARU: The State Government, via the Department of Environment, has allocated RM6 million to build four more Air Pollutant Index (API) measuring stations which are expected to be ready in April.
State Health and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said the construction of the stations would increase the number of stations in the state to eight and boost the effectiveness of the information service to the people.
“Prior to this, we only depended on mobile measuring equipment to obtain API readings for places without a station,” he said after officiating the closing of a function ‘Say No to Obesity’ at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kempas, here, today.
He said the new stations would be built after suitable sites had been identified, including in developing areas such as Pengerang, Segamat and Pontian.
Commenting on the different API readings between Malaysia and Singapore, he said the two countries did not use the same API measurements, as such the readings were not the same.
“Their readings use different calculations, Singapore is using PM2.5 while Malaysia is using PM10.
“Singapore is also using more sensitive equipment to calculate in terms of dust suspension, so the reading is also not the same,” he said.
Meanwhile, the programme saw 33 obese pupils taking part in a six-month motivation and exercise programme from March and ending this month. – BERNAMA