Meteorological Department warns of smog from Indonesia drifting to Sarawak

The perennial haze is here again.

The west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and western Sarawak began to experience the haze yesterday due to the forest fires in six provinces in Indonesia, said the director-general of the Meteorological Department, Jailan Simon.

He said the haze will have an effect on the weather in Penang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan and Putrajaya in the peninsula and Kuching, Serian and Samarahan in Sarawak.

Indonesia has reportedly deployed thousands of military and police personnel to douse the forest fires in Riau, southern Sumatera, Jambi, western Kalimantan, central Kalimantan and southern Kalimantan.

“So far 30 to 40 hotspots have been detected in Sumatera and the haze is at the moderate level, but we are monitoring to see if the hotspots will increase to 100.

“This month, we forecast the dry weather and haze to prolong for five days. We advise the people to reduce outdoor activities and avoid open burning,” he said when contacted by Bernama.

Jailan said the department is collaborating with the Indonesian government through the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency to obtain the latest information on the forest fires and hopes that they can be brought under control quickly.

Data released by the Department of Environment on the Air Pollutant Index of Malaysia website shows that the API is at the unhealthy level in two areas as at noon today, namely Rompin in Pahang (104) and Johan Setia, Klang, in Selangor (107).

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