Seven hotspots have been detected in Malaysia, with five in Sarawak and two in Sabah, as worsening haze pushes air quality in several parts of Sarawak into the unhealthy category.
Department of Environment (DOE) deputy director-general (Development) Azuri Azizah Saedon said the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) had also detected 226 hotspots in Kalimantan and five in Sumatra as of Aug 14.
As of 11am today, nine areas in Sarawak recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings. Kuching recorded the highest at 164, followed by Samarahan (161), Serian IPD (160), Bintulu and Sarikei (157), Sri Aman (153), Sibu (152), Mukah (151) and Samalaju (118).
The deterioration in air quality was linked to haze moving into Sarawak from several directions. Azuri Azizah said moderate to dense transboundary smoke from hotspot clusters in West Kalimantan was moving northwards into western Sarawak, while localised smoke plumes from hotspots in Kalimantan, central Sarawak and central Sumatra were also affecting the state.
The impact was also evident across the border, with several air quality monitoring stations in West Kalimantan as well as western and central Sarawak recording unhealthy readings. However, ASMC said cloud cover had prevented a full assessment of the extent of the hotspots and haze in the region.
In response, the DOE has intensified enforcement and daily patrols in areas prone to open burning, while continuing to monitor API readings. The National Open Burning Action Plan and National Haze Action Plan have also been activated to coordinate government agencies’ response.
The DOE urged landowners to closely monitor fire-prone areas, including landfills, forests, peatlands, plantations and agricultural and industrial sites, and take steps to prevent fires.
The public was also reminded not to carry out open burning and to report cases of open burning or fires to the Fire and Rescue Department at 999 or the DOE’s toll-free line at 1-800-88-2727.
