Sameer Ahmed Shaikh, Hashini Kavishtri Kannan and HAni Shamira Shahrudin New Straits Times 30 Aug 13;
NO AGREEMENT: Indonesia yet to ratify Asean pact on transboundary haze pollution
KUALA LUMPUR: THERE is unlikely to be a quick solution to the haze issue anytime soon. This is because the Indonesian government refuses to take the matter to the Asean Secretariat, said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel.
He said Indonesia preferred to have a "government to government" meeting with Malaysia and Singapore, rather than taking the matter to the Asean Secretariat.
Palanivel said he was informed by his Indonesian counterpart, Dr Balthasar Kambuaya, that a decision on the matter would be made only after the Indonesian parliament meets in December, either this year or next.
Indonesia has yet to ratify the Asean Agreement on Haze Transboundary Pollution brokered in 2002.
"We are ready to provide all the support needed to them, especially the cloud seeding planes, but we will have to wait for the Indonesian government to make a decision."
Palanivel added that the haze situation in Kedah and Penang improved with a reduction in the API reading yesterday.
He is, however, still concerned that the haze situation may worsen.
"I don't want the schools to be closed again. I am worried that it will affect students sitting their examinations," he said after opening the National Utility Mapping Seminar 2013, themed Utility Mapping -- Driving Sustainable Development, here yesterday.
A total of 300 participants attended the seminar organised by the Survey and Mapping Department.
Meanwhile, the Department of Environment (DoE) said all 51 air monitoring stations nationwide recorded healthy and moderate readings.
"The public is advised to avoid carrying out all forms of open burning, except for cremation, ritual burning, charcoal barbeque grills and the flaring of gas.
"They are also advised to report such activities to the fire and rescue department," it said.
As of 5pm, Air Pollutant Index reading in Sungai Petani, Langkawi and Alor Star showed moderate readings compared with the previous day, when readings shot up to unhealthy levels.
The readings improved from the unhealthy mark (92 and 82) respectively on Wednesday.
Air quality in Seberang Prai, Penang also improved yesterday with an API reading of 63 compared with the day before, which recorded an API of 102.
Palanivel said the seminar was aimed at raising awareness of the need to have an organised and proper underground utility mapping system for all the agencies.
He said the government realised the importance of having an organised, comprehensive and updated underground utility infrastructure to ensure steady development of the country.
'Unhealthy' air in 2 towns
Zarina Zakariah AND Phuah Ken Lin
New Straits Times 29 Aug 13;
LIMIT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES: Kedah, Penang raise alert as haze makes comeback
KUALA LUMPUR: THE Air Pollutant Index (API) recorded unhealthy air quality in two towns at 5pm yesterday, following the detection of haze since Monday.
Sungai Petani in Kedah recorded an API of 104 at 5pm, but saw a reduction to 102 at 7pm, while Seberang Jaya in Penang recorded a 101 API level at 5pm, but returned to "moderate" level of 100 two hours later.
Other areas nationwide still hovered between "good" and "moderate", according to the Department of Environment (DOE).
Air pollution is considered "hazardous" when the API has a reading of 301 and above; "very unhealthy" at 201 to 300; "unhealthy" at 101 to 200; "moderate" at 51 to 100 and "good" at 0-50.
A total of 33 areas in Johor, Kedah, Perak, Kelantan, Malacca, Penang, Selangor, Terengganu, Negri Sembilan and Kuala Lumpur had recorded "moderate" API levels. The 16 API stations in Sabah and Sarawak registered "good" API readings.
A satellite image from the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre showed 308 hot spots in Sumatra, Indonesia, believed to be the contributory factor to the haze, compared with to only 264 hot spots registered on Monday.
Thick haze was also reported in Kota Pekanbaru, capital of Riau, and had resulted in flight disruptions at the Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport.
Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency said it was assisting its district counterpart in tackling the haze by enlisting the use of water bombers.
The nation last saw the haze last month and an Asean forum was organised in which Indonesia assured its neighbours that it would ratify the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, brokered in 2002.
In Alor Star, the state Health Department advised those in southern Kedah to take precautionary measures as the API in Sungai Petani hits the unhealthy level.
Its director Dr Ismail Abu Taat said those with asthma should limit outdoor activities.
"Those who feel unwell should seek immediate medical attention, especially if they experience breathing difficulties or discomfort," said Dr Ismail.
The DOE monitoring station in Bakar Arang and Sungai Petani showed the API reading had increased from 94 at 6am to 104 at 5pm yesterday.
The API in Langkawi and Alor Star also showed significance increase from 77 and 71 at 6am yesterday to 96 and 89 respectively.
In Kangar, the API reading also showed an increase from 71 at 6am yesterday to 86 as of 5pm.
In George Town, state Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the state government had distributed face masks for free to schoolchildren.
Haze blanketed the island and the mainland yesterday with the API reaching "unhealthy" levels.
At 6am, the API readings in Seberang Jaya, Prai and Penang island were 89, 77 and 83 respectively. At 5pm, the API readings increased to 101 in Seberang Jaya, 88 in Prai and 96 in Penang island. It also saw poor visibility along the Penang Bridge.
State DOE assistant director (operations) Badili Shah Ahmad said it was difficult to forecast whether the air quality would worsen, but hoped for rain to clear the air. Additional reporting by Zahratulhayat Mat Arif
Rain helps clear haze in Penang
The Star 30 Aug 13;
GEORGE TOWN: A late night rain brought an improvement in the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings in Penang, a day after the state was heavily shrouded in haze.
As at 5pm yesterday, the API at Universiti Sains Malaysia and Prai were both recorded at the healthy level of 64 as compared to 82 and 87 previously while it was 57 at Seberang Jaya, down from 76.
Visibility in the state had also improved with the Meteorological Department’s website recording a range of 7km in all three locations as at 5pm.
Various locations in Kedah and Perlis also recorded a slight improvement in the API readings.
The API in Bakar Arang, Sungai Petani, which reached an unhealthy level of 104 on Wednes-day, dropped to a moderate level of 55.
Air quality in Langkawi was recorded at 54, an improvement from 69 previously, while in Alor Setar, it was at 56, down from 75.
Perlis also enjoyed good air quality with the API reading dropping to 48 yesterday from 69 on Wednesday evening.
