New Straits Times 14 Sep 11;
KUALA LUMPUR: Kota Baru appeared the be the worst affected by haze with visibility dropping to just 2km.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department, in its website, said the haze was also causing low visibility in Sitiawan and Bayan Lepas, at 3km, and Alor Star, Butterworth, Petaling Jaya and Subang, at 4km.
The Department of Environment's website said Kuala Selangor recorded the highest Air Pollutant Index (API) of 99. Other badly affected areas were Seri Manjung at 95, Nilai at 94 and Petaling Jaya at 92.
Thirty-five areas recorded moderate readings while 16 areas had good readings.
The Singapore Meteorological Service's website said isolated showers over southern and central Sumatra had helped to reduce hotspot activities.
"However, smoke plumes with moderate smoke haze continued to be observed in Jambi and southern Sumatra."
It was reported that satellite images detected 600 hotspots with high temperatures in Sumatra this year.
The monsoon winds blew the smoke from the forest fires in Sumatra across the Straits of Malacca, resulting in the haze which blanketed the country since last week.
Good API ratings range from 0 to 50, while a moderate API is from 51 to 100. An API level of above 100 is unhealthy.
Malaysia: Moderate air quality in 34 areas
The Star 13 Sep 11;
KUALA LUMPUR: The Air Pollutant Index (API) reading showed good air quality in 18 areas and moderate in 34 others as at 11am on Tuesday.
The Department of Environment also reported that were no areas with unhealthy API reading.
Five areas with the lowest API readings were Limbang (20), ILP Miri (21), Bintulu (22) and Sarikei (23), all in Sarawak, and Keningau, Sabah (22).
API reading of between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51-100 (moderate), 101-200 (unhealthy), 201-300 (very unhealthy) and 301 and above (hazardous).
The DOE said that hazy condition is expected to persist for several more days and members of the public are advised not to carry out open burning, and to cooperate in putting out small fires. - Bernama
