Air Quality Very Unhealthy In Kuching, Sri Aman At 8am

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 (Bernama) -- Two areas in Sarawak recorded very unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as at 8 am today, with Kuching recording the highest reading of 235, while Sri Aman 216.

The Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal reported unhealthy API readings for 35 areas in eight states and three Federal Territories.

Sarawak recorded the highest number with 10 areas, followed by Selangor (six), Johor (four), Negeri Sembilan and Sabah (three each), and Pahang and Melaka (two each).

Kuala Lumpur also recorded two areas with unhealthy API readings, while Terengganu, Putrajaya and Labuan each recorded one.

In Sarawak, unhealthy air quality was recorded in Samalaju (200), Bintulu (199), Mukah (195), Samarahan (195), Sarikei (189), IPD Serian (184), ILP Miri (181), Sibu (181), Miri (176) and Limbang (162).

In Selangor, the areas with unhealthy API readings were Johan Setia (179), Shah Alam (165), Banting (156), Petaling Jaya (155), Klang (154) and Kuala Selangor (153), while in Johor, they were Segamat (160), Tangkak (154), Batu Pahat (153) and Kluang (152).

The three areas in Negeri Sembilan were Nilai (167), Seremban (166) and Port Dickson (153), while in Sabah, they were Kimanis (167), Politeknik Kota Kinabalu (164) and Kota Kinabalu (161).

Other areas were Jerantut (166) and Temerloh (162) in Pahang; Alor Gajah (157) and Bukit Rambai (157) in Melaka; Batu Muda (161) and Cheras (161) in Kuala Lumpur; and Putrajaya (162), Labuan (161) and Paka (117) in Terengganu.

Meanwhile, 20 areas recorded moderate API readings, while eight recorded good readings.

An API reading of 0 to 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy and 300 and above, hazardous.

The Department of Environment (DOE), in a statement today, said it was also closely monitoring fires in scrubland and peatland areas near Jalan Sibujaya Barat in Mukah and Sungai Nai in Daro, Sarawak, due to the higher risk of fires during hot and dry weather.

It said the fire at Jalan Sibujaya Barat had been brought under control and extinguished over an area of nine hectares, while firefighting efforts were still underway on the remaining one hectare.

At Sungai Nai, about 2.5 hectares of the three-hectare area affected by the fire were still burning, although the situation was reported to be under control, based on information from the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM).

Sarawak DOE will continue to monitor both locations and conduct drone flights to obtain the latest information on the status of the fires and the extent of the affected areas.

The department will also continue to monitor API readings, hotspots, meteorological conditions and developments in transboundary haze to coordinate action at the district, state and national levels.

Under the National Haze Action Plan, the Disaster Management Committee under the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) may be activated when the API reading exceeds 150 for more than 24 hours.

Outdoor activities must be suspended when the API reading exceeds 100, while schools, kindergartens and nurseries are to be closed when the reading exceeds 200.

Cloud seeding operations may be carried out when the API reading exceeds 150 for more than 24 hours, subject to suitable cloud cover and weather conditions.

The DOE stressed that it would take a firm stance against open burning caused by human activities and continue with preventive measures, inspections, investigations and enforcement action based on evidence.

Offences involving open burning under the Environmental Quality (Amendment) Act 2024 carry a minimum fine of RM25,000 and up to RM1 million, or imprisonment for up to five years, or both.

The public are urged to report cases of fire or open burning to JBPM via the 999 emergency line or the DOE through its toll-free number, 1-800-88-2727.

-- BERNAMA