Six areas in Sarawak recorded very unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 1 pm today, with Serian recording the highest reading at 287.
Department of Environment (DOE) Deputy Director-General (Development) Azuri Azizah Saedon said the other affected areas were Kuching (267), Sri Aman (251), Samarahan (242), Samalaju (202) and Bintulu (201).
She said 25 areas recorded unhealthy API readings across Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, Pahang, Sabah, Labuan, Sarawak and Selangor. Another 26 areas recorded moderate air quality, while 11 recorded good readings.
Azuri Azizah said the situation was linked to persistent dry weather in parts of the Southern ASEAN region.
Based on the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) report yesterday, 139 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan, 138 in Sumatra and 16 in Malaysia. Of the Malaysian hotspots, nine were in Sarawak, five in Sabah and two in Terengganu.
ASMC also reported moderate to thick haze moving northeast from Kalimantan towards several areas in Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei.
Moderate to thick smoke plumes were also observed over North and East Kalimantan, as well as central and southern Sumatra, while moderate haze was reported in Singapore, southern Peninsular Malaysia and eastern Java.
The DOE said it was intensifying monitoring and patrols in high-risk areas, including forests, peatlands, landfills, agricultural and plantation areas, plus industrial sites.
Any open burning or pollution detected will be investigated, with enforcement action taken under the relevant laws and the DOE’s jurisdiction.
The public can report fires or open burning to the Fire and Rescue Department via 999 or the DOE toll-free line at 1-800-88-2727.
The latest API readings are available through the DOE’s Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) and the MyJAS application.
