Haze season is back in Malaysia
On Saturday (19th July), the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading hit unhealthy levels in parts of Peninsular Malaysia, mainly in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.
Unfortunately, the haze season has officially descended upon us, with over 1,200 hotspots reported in Sumatra on Sunday and more areas in Klang Valley and the east coast entering the Unhealthy range as of Monday (21st July).
The Malaysian public has been advised to reduce outdoor activities, with closures expected in the education sector if API readings hit Very Unhealthy levels.
Is the haze season back in Malaysia?
According to a haze update by the Department of Environment (JAS) on Sunday, five areas in Malaysia recorded unhealthy API readings. They are Putrajaya (139), Banting, Selangor (154), Nilai, Negeri Sembilan (162), Alor Gajah, Melaka (110), and Johan Setia, Selangor (154).
Over the past 24 hours, this number grew to eight areas in Klang Valley and the east coast, with Alor Gajah being the worst-affected area with a reading of 160:
- Alor Gajah, Melaka (160)
- Temerloh, Pahang (156)
- Banting, Selangor (155)
- Nilai, Negeri Sembilan (155)
- Kemaman, Terengganu (153)
- Johan Setia, Selangor (152)
- Cheras, Kuala Lumpur (151)
- Putrajaya (124)
API readings, as of 2pm on Monday (21st July).
Fifty-seven other areas in Malaysia reported Moderate API readings.
The deterioration in air quality is influenced by the movement of haze from Sumatra and Kalimantan, with 1,208 hotspots comprising forest and peatland fires reported there on Sunday. Four hotspots were also identified in Malaysia on Sunday, two each in Pahang and Selangor, as revealed by JAS. Fortunately, no large-scale fire has been detected in the country.
The API scale is an essential indicator for public health advisories. Readings from 101 to 200 are considered ‘Unhealthy’, while 51-100 is defined as ‘Moderate’. A ‘Very Unhealthy’ reading ranges between 201 and 300. Significant fluctuations can occur hourly based on wind and weather patterns, necessitating continuous monitoring. A total of 68 air quality monitoring stations are located nationwide.
The public is advised to reduce outdoor activities
In a statement, JAS announced several immediate safety measures in response to the haze situation in Malaysia:
- All outdoor school activities are to stop if the API exceeds 100
- Full closures for schools, kindergartens, and childcare centres if the API reading in an area exceeds 200
- Cloud seeding operations launched in states or districts with API readings that exceed 150 for more than 24 hours
The Department of Environment (DOE) director-general, Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar, has also advised the public not to carry out open burning, which is a punishable offense, and to limit outdoor activities if the API exceeds unhealthy levels.
Stay safe during the haze season in Malaysia
With rain showers yet to come our way, and pesky haze blanketing parts of Malaysia, it’ll be important to stay safe against the haze season by limiting outdoor activities and staying hydrated. Fingers crossed that the hazy conditions will clear up soon in the region.
You can stay updated with the latest API readings in Malaysia on the country’s official Malaysia Environmental Quality Management System’s (MyEQMS) website here.
Cover image adapted from: Alex Lvrs via Unsplash, MyEQMS