The Government is monitoring “hot spots” in Indonesia, which is the main source of haze in Malaysia
The Government is monitoring “hot spots” in Indonesia,
which is the main source of haze in Malaysia
5August 2005
publishedby TheNew Straits Time
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk SeriAdenan Satem said conditions in Malaysia has improved with no areas havingunhealthy air quality.
“There are 34 areas with moderate air quality,” he said after chairingthe First Asean Ministerial Meeting on Minerals here.
He said the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre reported 587 “hot spots”in Riau and North Sumatra, 17 in Sarawak and 16 in Kalimantan on Aug 1.
He said the westerly winds, blowing from Sumatra, contained suspended minuteparticles resulting in hazy conditions in Peninsular Malaysia on Tuesday.
However, the situation improved when the number of hot spots in Sumatra wasreduced to 134 yesterday.
In Kuala Lumpur, Department of Environment director general Datuk RosnaniIbarahim said the overall air quality has improved nationwide.
Most areas report visibility of more than 10 kilometres. Ipoh had visibility ofseven km. In Subang and Sepang (Selangor) visibility was nine km whilevisibility in Muad- zam Shah (Pahang) ranged from eight to nine km.
The public can report open-burning to the DOE from 7.30 am to 11.30 pm bycalling 1-800-88-2727.
Meanwhile, the Fire and Rescue Services Department operations chief HussinAbdullah said it will probably take two more days for the peat fire nearCyberjaya to be completely extinguished.
