New Straits Times 14 Jun 09;
KUALA LUMPUR: The haze eased up over parts of the country, thanks to heavy showers yesterday morning.
The Department of Environment's (DOE) Air Pollutant Index (API) in Klang, which had the highest reading, improved from 136 on Friday to 89 as of 5pm yesterday.
Other areas with high readings that had improved API were Cheras (from 109 to 76), Kajang (100 to 71) and Shah Alam (120 to 74).
Petaling Jaya improved from 93 to 74, Putrajaya (92 to 63), Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur (99 to 75), Kuala Selangor (80 to 74), Port Dickson (74 to 56) and Miri (71 to 69).
API readings of 0-50 units are classified as good, 51-100 as moderate, 101-200 unhealthy, 201-300 very unhealthy and above 301 as hazardous.
The DOE listed 24 locations, or 48 per cent, as having good API, while 25 locations, or 51 per cent, were classified with moderate API readings.
Meteorological Department climatologist Dr Wan Azli Wan Hassan said a lot depended on rain and wind conditions for the haze situation to improve.
"It has to rain daily. Thunderstorms, preferably in the morning and evenings, will help clear up the skies of the pollutants."
However, Wan Azli cautioned that the haze could return should dry spells persists.
"This is because the source of the haze -- hotspots from forest fires in a neighbouring country -- has to be tackled. If the fires are not doused, the potential for haze is always there," he said.
Reports of indiscriminate burning of plantations in Sumatra have been blamed for the ashes and dust that are blown by south-westerly winds to the peninsula.
