Nine Areas Record Unhealthy API as Of 3 Pm

KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 (Bernama) -- Nine areas in Peninsular Malaysia recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) levels as of 3 pm today.

According to the Environment Department’s (DOE) Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal, Alor Gajah in Melaka recorded the highest reading at 157, followed by Seremban, Negeri Sembilan (155) and Kemaman, Terengganu (153).

Johan Setia in Selangor, Temerloh in Pahang and Balok Baru in Kuantan, each recorded an API reading of 152.

Meanwhile, Nilai in Negeri Sembilan registered a reading of 138, Banting in Selangor recorded 135, and Cheras in Kuala Lumpur recorded 132.

Under DOE classification, API readings between 101 and 200 are categorised as unhealthy and may affect high-risk groups such as the elderly, children and individuals with respiratory conditions.

In an earlier statement, the DOE advised the public to limit outdoor activities, wear face masks when outdoors and seek immediate treatment if experiencing shortness of breath or respiratory issues.

Latest API readings are available at https://apims.doe.gov.my.

Meanwhile, DOE director-general Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar, in a statement, said the deterioration in air quality across several parts of the country continues to be influenced by transboundary haze.

He said unhealthy API readings in Balok Baru and Kemaman, Terengganu, were linked to a fire at the Jerangau-Jabor landfill in Mukim Sungai Karang, Kuantan, Pahang.

Citing data from the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) in Singapore, Wan Abdul Latiff said satellite imagery from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 20 recorded 40 hotspots in Sumatra and 64 in Kalimantan, Indonesia, yesterday.

“In Malaysia, a total of 19 hotspots were detected, namely 12 in Sabah, three each in Pahang and Sarawak, and one in Selangor,” he said.

He added that the regional haze map released by ASMC showed wind blowing southwest with visible smoke plumes, while dry conditions were observed in southern Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, the Lesser Sunda Islands, and south Kalimantan.

“Isolated hotspots were also detected in Sumatra, as well as in Peninsular Malaysia, Kalimantan, Vietnam and Thailand,” he said.

In response to the situation, the DOE has stepped up enforcement efforts and intensified daily patrols in areas prone to open burning, while also closely monitoring API readings.

Wan Abdul Latiff also urged landowners to monitor fire-prone areas such as landfills, forests, peatlands, plantations, agricultural sites and industrial zones, and to take preventive measures to deter encroachment and open burning by irresponsible parties.

He also reminded the public that open burning is an offence under Section 29(A) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, punishable by a fine of up to RM1 million, imprisonment of up to five years, or both. Offenders may also be compounded up to 50 per cent of the maximum fine.

“The public is encouraged to help extinguish small fires and report any open burning or fire incidents to the Fire and Rescue Department via 999, or to the DOE hotline at 1-800-88-2727,” he said.

Health advisories and haze-related precautionary measures can be accessed via the Health Ministry’s website at www.moh.gov.my.

-- BERNAMA