KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- Unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings have been recorded in 38 areas in Peninsular Malaysia as of 3 pm today following continuous dry weather in the ASEAN south region and the movement of cross-border haze.
The Department of Environment (DOE) informed that the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) detected 210 hotspots in Sumatera and 94 in Kalimantan, Indonesia, as well as one in Pahang.
"Medium to thick cross-border haze is seen in the south and central Sumatera, Singapore, and the southern region of Peninsular Malaysia as well as several areas in Kalimantan," the DOE said in a statement today.
The highest API reading was 190 recorded in Segamat, Johor, followed by Seremban (186) and Nilai (185), Negeri Sembilan, Kluang, Johor (181), Rompin, Pahang and Johan Setia, Selangor at 178, and 30 areas recorded moderate API readings, while no area nationwide recorded good air quality, the department said.
On confusion caused by differences in official API readings on international platforms or third-party providers, the DOE explained it was due to the use of scale, calculation methods, threshold values and different data sources.
Some independent platforms use satellite data or low-cost sensors that only measure the density of particles in the atmosphere and not the true air quality at ground level, while there was a risk of misintepreting water vapour or clouds as smoke.
"The public is asked to refer to the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) of the MyJAS EQMS app as the government’s official source to obtain the daily API status and accurate health advisory,” the department said.
It also clarified that integrated haze management actions according to the National Haze Action Plan include suspending outdoor activities at schools should API readings exceed 100, and that the National Disater Management Agency (NADMA) would activate the disaster management committee and cloud seeding operations when API readings exceed 150 for over 24 hours.
The DOE also issued a reminder to the public not to conduct open burning in the current hot and dry weather and those found guilty could be fined from RM25,000 to RM1 million or jailed up to five years or both.
-- BERNAMA