KUCHING: Air quality in Sarawak deteriorated today, with Serian recording a very unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 227 as haze affected several parts of the state.
Department of Environment;s (DOE) Deputy Director-General (Development), Azuri Azizah Saedon, said nine areas in Sarawak recorded unhealthy API readings at 2 pm, while the IPD Serian station recorded the country’s only very unhealthy reading.
“Sri Aman recorded an API of 187, followed by Kuching (176), Samarahan (175), Sarikei (174), Sibu (157), Bintulu (154), Samalaju (154), Kapit (130) and Mukah (130).
“The deterioration in air quality was caused by haze smoke moving into Sarawak from various directions,” she said in a statement.
She said the department had stepped up enforcement and daily patrols in areas prone to open burning while continuously monitoring API readings.
“The National Open Burning Action Plan and National Haze Action Plan have been activated to coordinate the actions of relevant government agencies in dealing with open burning and the haze situation,” she added.
She then stated that based on a report by the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) on August 20, satellite imagery from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) detected 288 hotspots in Kalimantan and 53 in Sumatra.
“Only two hotspots were detected in Malaysia one in Sarawak and one in Terengganu.
“The regional haze map issued by ASMC today showed persistent dry weather across most parts of southern ASEAN, although rain was reported over northeastern Borneo and northern Sumatra,” she said.
She then said moderate to dense transboundary smoke plumes were observed over West Kalimantan and moving northwards into western Sarawak.
“Moderate to dense smoke was also observed originating from clusters of hotspots across Kalimantan, while light to moderate smoke was detected over central and southern Sumatra.
“Several air quality monitoring stations in West and Central Kalimantan, western and central Sarawak, as well as southern Sumatra recorded unhealthy to hazardous readings.
“However, the full extent of the regional hotspot and haze situation could not be determined due to cloud cover,” she said.
Azuri then stated the National Haze Action Plan provides for coordinated action by relevant agencies based on API readings.
“Under the plan, the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) will activate disaster management committees at district, state or federal level if the API exceeds 150 for more than 24 hours.
“Outdoor classroom activities must be stopped when the API exceeds 100, while schools, kindergartens and nurseries must be closed immediately when the API exceeds 200,” she said.
She also said that schools, kindergartens and nurseries are also advised to make preparations for closure if the API trend shows an increase towards 200.
“Cloud seeding operations may also be carried out if the API exceeds 150 for more than 24 hours, subject to suitable cloud formation and weather conditions,” she said.
She urged landowners to closely monitor fire-prone areas, including dumpsites, forests, peatlands, plantations, agricultural and industrial areas, and take measures to prevent trespassing that could lead to open burning.
“The public was also reminded that under the Environmental Quality (Amendment) Act 2024, open-burning offences carry a minimum fine of RM25,000 and a maximum of RM1 million, or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
“A compound of up to 50 per cent of the maximum fine may also be imposed for each offence.
“The public can monitor hourly API readings through the DOE website or the official MyJAS EQMS mobile application,” she added.
The public are also advised to obtain health advice and preventive measures during haze from the Ministry of Health website.
Members of the public are urged not to conduct open burning and to report cases of open burning or fires to the Fire and Rescue Department at 999 or the DOE toll-free line at 1-800-88-2727.
