A familiar yet awful smell of haze has once again engulfed the Klang Valley, due to smog from Sumatra brought in by the monsoon winds.

According to Bernama this evening, six areas including two in Malacca recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings today.     

As at 11am today, the highest readings were recorded in Bandaraya Melaka (129) and Bukit Rambai (120), followed by Port Dickson (117), Muar (110), Port Klang (104) and Kemaman (101).     

In a press release yesterday, the DOE said that satellite information showed that the haze originate from neighbouring Sumatra, which according to satellite data, had 46 "hotspots".

"The monsoon wind blowing in from the hotspots in Central Sumatra, Indonesia has brought the haze to the central and southern areas in Peninsular Malaysia," it said the statement. 

"Hotspots" describe the burning of vegetation, often times intentionally set by farmers and palm oil plantations.

The smoke caused by these fires are being carried by the southwestern monsoon to Peninsula Malaysia, a weather phenomenon which the DOE expects to continue until September.

Although there are peat fires in various parts of Selangor, the DOE assured that the situation was controlled and it did not contribute to the haze.

"We advise the public to not cause any open burning. The public are also advised to put out small fires and report open burning or fire emergencies to the fire brigade at 999 and the DOE hotline at 1-800-88-2727," read the press release.