Malaysia: Peat fires and the ever-repeating haze

The Star Says The Star 19 Jun 13;

IT'S the same old script, year after year. Right around this time, the clear blue skies in parts of our country and a few other countries in the region will turn grey.

It is that time of the year when forests are being cleared the easy way by small-time farmers and big-time plantation companies.

And so the fires rage on and, aided by the monsoonal wind patterns, bring unhealthy pollutants into our lives. The haze is no respector of geographical or international boundaries. It simply goes where the wind takes it.

The newspaper headlines will scream, “The haze is back” or, as we declared in our Monday edition, “Hot and hazy days ahead.”

Call it deja vu but almost exactly a year ago, on June 20, the editorial in this same space began with this paragraph: “Today, parts of our country are enveloped by the haze, a perennial problem that invites the usual comments.”

And if we search the archives further back, you will find similar comments from different people on the same topic. As Hollywood might declare, “Same script, different characters.”

And so the plot will play itself out.

But the haze is not a work of fiction. It is a harsh reality story that can bring much grief to all of us if the problem worsens.

Each year, we just hope and pray that the burnt, bitter and pungent smell will not linger too long. And that we will never ever experience anything similar to the worst haze phenomenon ever in 1997-1998 which not only brought untold misery to millions of people, but exacted a heavy cost on the region estimated at close to US$9bil (RM28bil).

The moment the haze appears, the weatherman will tell us about the wind patterns and why the temperatures will soar.

The Department of the Environment will give us the API readings and we sometimes wonder why the figures do not seem to match what we see with our naked eyes.

The health authorities will tell us to take precautions and the school authorities will promptly cancel all outdoor activities..

Politicians will lament about how the haze can affect tourism takings while the politicians who hold office will try their diplomatic best not to be too harsh on the offending parties.

And, as to be expected, the relevant Asean ministers will agree to come together and talk.

There is already one scheduled for this August in Kuala Lumpur.

But talk is pointless if we cannot hold anyone accountable for the economic and social costs caused by the haze.

We need solutions.

It is worth remembering that a ground-breaking Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution was signed here in Kuala Lumpur more than 10 years ago, in 2002.

Malaysia was the first to ratify the agreement on Dec 3, 2002 and another eight countries, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, followed suit. But Indonesia, despite stating many times that it will ratify the agreement, has yet to do so.

But if we despair in not being able to solve matters at the regional level, we should, for a start, look into our own backyard as well.

The most number of hotspots currently are from Sumatra but here in the peninsula, we also have some hotspots. They are often times caused by open burning and peat forest fires. We need to crack down on these as well.

At times like this, the clarion call to “think globally and act locally” should resonate with all of us, either as individuals or as nations.

Four times as many hotspots in Sumatra now
The Star 19 Jun 13;

KUALA LUMPUR: In just one week, the number of hots spot in Sumatra, Indonesia, has more than quadrupled from 46 to 187. With the westerly wind during the south west monsoon season, the haze situation looks set to worsen in Malaysia.

According to the Meteorological Department, the south west monsoon season, forecast to last until September, was expected to bring drier and hotter days with occasional thunderstorms in the evenings.

The department also predicted that there would be less rainfall during the period, which could again worsen the situation.

Meanwhile, the Department of Environment website has identified Johor as the most affected by haze, with Pasir Gudang (148), Larkin Lama (122), and Kota Tinggi (126) all in the unhealthy bracket.

The Air Pollutant Index rating is measured as follows: good (0-50), moderate (51-100), unhealthy (101-200), very unhealthy (201-300) and hazardous (above 300).

Transboundary haze from land and forest fires during the traditional dry period during the west monsoon season has been a recurrent feature in the South East Asia region in the past few decades.

As of yesterday, satellite images from the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre revealed that there were 187 hot spots in Sumatra.

The temperature in the country is expected to rise to between 34°C and 36°C during the period with the urban areas feeling more of the heat because of buildings and the lack of surrounding greenery.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is concerned with the current haze situation, has advised the public to reduce outdoor activities and drink lots of water.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said he would chair a meeting on Aug 20 with his counterparts from Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, and Thailand to discuss the matter.

3 Johor areas have unhealthy air
Hana Naz Harun and Nurul Izzah Khalil New Straits Times 19 Jun 13;

IMPROVEMENT: Klang Valley areas record moderate readings

KUALA LUMPUR: THREE areas in Johor recorded "unhealthy" Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 5pm yesterday, with winds blowing from the southwest pushing the haze towards the peninsula's east coast.

Pasir Gudang showed an "unhealthy" reading of 148. Its highest reading was 153 at 11am.

In Larkin Lama, the API level increased to 125 at 11am, but improved to 122 at 5pm.

In Kota Tinggi, the API increased from 118 (11am) to 126 (5pm).

In Kemaman, Terengganu, the API level improved from "unhealthy" (103) at 11am to "moderate" (99) at 5pm.

In the Klang Valley, several areas, including Putrajaya, Pelabuhan Klang, Kuala Selangor and Peta-ling Jaya, recorded moderate readings.

The API reading is "good" when it is between 0 and 50, "moderate" (51 to 100), "unhealthy" (101 to 200), "very unhealthy" (201 to 300), and "hazardous" (above 300).

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre satellite image showed 113 hot spots in central Sumatra.

Sumatra had 138 hot spots on Sunday.

The image showed that there was haze in Riau province, central Sumatra.

The ministry said that the Department of Environment would continue to monitor the air quality in the country according to the actions outlined in the National Haze Action Plan.

It would also activate the Open Burning Prevention Action Plan in all states.

"The Department of Environment will improve the enforcement of laws on emissions from motor vehicles and emissions from factories."

Johor bears brunt of smoky air
Teo Cheng Wee Regional Correspondent In Kuala Lumpur
Straits Times 19 Jun 13;

A MALAYSIAN minister has told Indonesia that it needs to really contain the haze, as Johor bore the brunt of the smoky air yesterday.

"When peat soil burns, it is continuous and emits a lot of smoke," Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor told reporters yesterday. "This cannot go on. Every year, it is ongoing and ongoing."

Although the air quality in central Malaysia and the east coast improved yesterday, three areas in Johor registered "unhealthy" Air Pollutant Index (API) readings: Pasir Gudang, whose API reading of 148 yesterday was the highest in the country, Kota Tinggi (126) and Larkin Lama (122).

Mr Harris Ismail, 35, who lives in Johor Baru, said the haze caused his eyes to water and made it difficult for him to breathe.

"I need to buy a face mask soon," he said.

Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan said Malaysia will be talking to its neighbour about the issue. Indonesia has got to "really contain and look at the burning peat soil problem", he said, adding that Malaysia can offer help if necessary.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Ewon Ebin said Malaysia may consider cloud seeding to induce rain. The current dry spell has to do with the south-west monsoon, which is expected to last until September.

The Department of Environment said in a statement yesterday that it will continue to monitor the air quality closely, and warned that Malaysians who start open fires can be fined or jailed.

A commentary in the New Straits Times pointed out that until Indonesia ratifies the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution that was signed in 2002, the haze problem will continue to affect the region.

"The (agreement) must be followed by assertive, definite, practical action by all parties," it said. "Failing which, such an agreement will just be in vain."