DOE Records 1,418 Enforcement, Monitoring Actions During Haze Period

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- The Department of Environment (DOE) carried out 1,418 enforcement and monitoring actions nationwide during the haze period from Aug 3 to Sept 13.

Its deputy director-general (Development),, Azuri Azizah Saedon,, said the actions included 978 monitoring activities, 83 field directives, 31 instruction notices, 305 cases referred to other agencies for further action, 11 compound offers, and 10 land title searches to support investigations and court proceedings.

“These efforts reflect the DOE’s ongoing commitment to detecting and preventing open burning, as well as taking action against potential sources of pollution that could worsen air quality during haze episodes,” she said in a statement today.

She said enforcement efforts are also strengthened through inspections and patrols in areas identified as high-risk, including agricultural land, peatlands, plantations, landfill sites and locations prone to open burning.

She said any offences identified during inspections and investigations will be followed by further action, based on the evidence gathered in the field.

Meanwhile, Azuri Azizah said Air Pollutant Index (API) readings at 3 pm today showed unhealthy air quality in 37 areas, including Johan Setia in Selangor, which recorded the highest reading at 184, followed by Cheras in Kuala Lumpur at 175, Nilai in Negeri Sembilan at 172, and Putrajaya and Shah Alam, both at 171.

She said the situation occurred amid persistent dry weather in parts of the southern ASEAN region, adding that according to the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) report yesterday, 240 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan, 355 in Sumatra and one in Malaysia (Sabah).

She said the ASMC also reported moderate to dense transboundary haze over Kalimantan, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and parts of southern Vietnam and Cambodia.

Meanwhile, Azuri Azizah said the DOE is paying particular attention to fires in Sarawak, especially those involving peatlands and landfill sites, because hot, dry conditions increase the risk.

“The fire at the Selalang Landfill in Sarikei affected an area of 1.5 hectares. As of today, about 1.3 hectares (87 per cent), has been extinguished, with firefighting efforts continuing on the remaining 0.2 hectares.

“Sarawak DOE will continue to monitor the fire site, including using drones to obtain the latest information on the fire’s status and the extent of the affected area,” she said.

She said air quality is also being monitored to assess the fire's potential impact on local air quality, with further action to be taken based on on-the-ground conditions and joint assessments with relevant agencies.

At the same time, Azuri Azizah said the DOE will continue monitoring API readings, hotspots, and developments in transboundary haze, using meteorological information to assess the situation and coordinate haze management efforts at district, state, and national levels.

She said coordinated measures are being implemented under the National Haze Action Plan, which provides, among other things, for the National Disaster Management Agency to activate the Disaster Management Committee if the API reading remains above 150 for more than 24 hours.

-- BERNAMA