Visibility Improves As Haze Eases Up

Bernama 15 May 09;

KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 (Bernama) -- The hazy conditions in the country has improved, resulting in better visibility, as 39 locations registered good Air Pollutant Index (API) readings while 11 others recorded moderate readings as of 11am today.

According to the Department of Environment (DOE) website, API reading for Port Klang, a leading sea route to the country, had also improved from 67 yesterday to 54 today.

Putrajaya, Cheras, Shah Alam and Petaling Jaya which recorded moderate
and unhealthy API readings yesterday, improved to 51, 57, 45 and 44 respectively.

A 0-50 API means good quality air, 51-100 is "moderate", 101-200 means
"unhealthy" and 201-300 means very unhealthy while 300 and above is
termed hazardous.

Bintulu in Sarawak was among few places that recorded a slight drop in the quality of air after recording 63 API compared with 56 yesterday while conditions in Miri improved from 76 yesterday to 35 today.

Meanwhile, a Malaysian Meteorological Department spokesman said visibility in all areas improved to more than 10km except for Petaling Jaya, Melaka and Butterworth, Penang which recorded eight to nine kilometers.

Seven hotspots were identified in West Malaysia, namely one each in Selangor, Kedah, Perak, Kelantan and three in Pahang while Sarawak recorded six hotspots, Sumatera (99) and Kalimantan (11). No hotspots were found in Sabah.
BERNAMA