KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Environment (DoE) has activated its two prevention action plans to reduce the risk of open burning in the wake of haze, which has reduced air quality in most parts the country.
In a statement today, the department said the National Open Burning Action and Haze Action Plans were activated to coordinate duties and responsibilities among all relevant government agencies in addressing issues related to open burning that may compound the haze situation in the country.
Under the two action plans, all state governments will work closely with their respective local governments and land owners to monitor areas which are vulnerable to open burning such as waste disposal sites, forests, peat soil, plantations and lands used for agricultural activities.
“They (state governments, local governments and land owners) should also take the necessary action to protect the areas from being encroached by irresponsible quarters who may cause open fire whether intentionally or unintentionally,” the statement said.
On its overall assessment of the air quality, DoE said Air Pollution Index (API) station in Bandar Indera Mahkota, Pahang, registered an unhealthy level of 104 at 10am today.
“This is due to the effects of smoke from forest and peat bush burning which was detected in Kampung Pulau Manis in Pekan, Pahang, which was not completely put off.
“A total of 66 API stations around the country registered moderate air quality reading (as of 10am today). Only the API station in Tawau, Sabah, recorded good air quality reading.”
The department said according to the latest weather and haze situation advisory issued by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) on Friday, hotspot clusters with smoke haze continued to be detected in Riau and Jambi, Sumatra, as well as in West and Central Kalimantan, Indonesia.
“The smoke haze from (the hotspots) Sumatera and Kalimantan is being blown by the prevailing winds towards the west coast in the peninsular and western part of Sarawak, which contributed to the increase in the API readings in the areas.”
Checks on DoE’s website showed a total of 67 API stations nationwide, including the ones in Bandar Indera Mahkota, recorded a moderate level in air quality as of 7pm today.
The reading of the air quality at the API station in Tawau remained at a good level.
As of 7pm today, the ASMC detected a total of 23 hotspots in Kalimantan. The Singapore-based centre also detected two hotspots at areas near Kota Belud and Kudat in Sabah.
“Dry conditions are expected to persist in central and southern Sumatra and Kalimantan over the next few days. An escalation in hotspot activities can be expected,” the ASMC said.