Malaysia today suffered the worst haze levels recorded this year with seven areas declared ‘unhealthy’ - four in Sarawak, two in Malacca and one in Johor.

NONEThe Air Pollution Index readings taken at 11am by the Department of Environment show Muar, Johor (111), Malacca town (127), Bukit Rambai, Malacca (117), Bintulu (119), Miri (144), Samarahan (138) and Sibu (150) in the 'unhealthy' category.

Other near-unhealthy areas include Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan (84) and Sri Aman (86). Air pollution in the Klang Valley are at ‘moderate’ levels.

Air quality is deemed 'unhealthy' at readings of 101-200, 'very unhealthy' from 201-300 and 'hazardous' if above 300. A reading of 0-50 is deemed 'good' and from 51-100 as 'moderate'.

Only 17 out of 48 areas where API readings were taken nationwide have registered 'good' air quality. They were mostly in the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia.

Increase in hot spots

Environment Department director-general Rosnani Ibarahim said earlier this week that hundreds of forest fires were blazing in the Indonesian provinces of Kalimantan and Sumatra, and in Sarawak.

klia haze aircraft landing 161006"Malaysia started to record an increase in hotspot numbers since Sunday due to the dry weather and open burning activities which spread very fast," she told APF earlier this week.

Farmers burn forests every year to clear land for agriculture, sending plumes of smoke across neighbouring countries.

The haze was at its worst in 1997-1998, costing the Southeast Asian region an estimated US$9 billion by disrupting air travel and other business activities.

Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai has expressed fears that the haze would worsen the A(H1N1) flu situation by causing more respiratory illnesses.

Meanwhile, Environment Minister Douglas Uggah Embas had to abort his plan to carry out aerial hot spots surveillance on a helicopter yesterday in Sarawak due to the poor visibility.

azlan