Malaysia: Number of hotspots in Sumatra down

The Star 5 Sep 15;

PUTRAJAYA: The num­­­­­­­ber of hotspots in Sumatra has reduced significantly from 395 on Thursday to 110 yesterday.

Coupled with the change in the wind direction in the northern peninsula, air quality in many areas that previously recorded unhealthy condition had improved.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said that except Alor Star where the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading was 83, the reading in most of other areas were below 70.

“The change in the wind direction is blowing the haze back to Sumatra,” he told newsmen after a working visit to the Lands and Mines Director-General Department here.

Dr Wan Junaidi said his planned visit to Indonesia on Sept 17 and 18 to meet his counterpart on the matter was still on.

“I am still going because there are other issues involving the two countries that need to be ironed out urgently,” he said.