Chong Pooi Koon and Manirajan Ramasamy Bloomberg News 4 Mar 14;
Smoke from forest and peat-soil fires drove air quality to unhealthy levels in and around Malaysia’s capital of Kuala Lumpur today, adding to the burden of water rationing after a month-long drought.
The government’s air pollutant index climbed to as high as 137 in Port Klang this morning, with seven parts of Kuala Lumpur and the states of Selangor and Negri Sembilan recording levels above 100, which is classified as unhealthy. Cloud-seeding has begun to induce rainfall over dams and water-catchment areas, the Star reported today, citing Malaysia’s Meteorological Department.
“We are trying to identify fire-prone areas, especially peat-soil land and steps are being taken,” G. Palanivel, Malaysia’s natural resources and environment minister, said in a text message to Bloomberg News today.
Disputes over haze flare up regularly between Indonesia and its neighbors. The latest was in June, when smog in Singapore reached a record because of Indonesian forest fires. The pollution now blanketing Kuala Lumpur isn’t being caused by this, Malaysia’s Department of Environment said.
“The medium-level of haze that the country is experiencing now is due to internal sources resulting from land and forest fires in a few states,” the government said in a statement on its website. “The chances of Peninsular Malaysia experiencing cross-border haze at this time are low because of the wind patterns.”
Riau Emergency
Officials in Indonesia’s Riau province declared a state of emergency last month due to forest fires causing local haze. About half of those burning are on land managed by oil palm, timber and logging companies, according to a report today by the World Resources Institute, a Washington-based advocacy group.
Parliament in neighboring Singapore, which has suffered drought since Jan. 13, discussed today whether the country had sufficient face masks if conditions escalate. Air quality deteriorated to “moderate” from “good” in the city-state today, the National Environment Agency said.
An El Nino weather pattern may occur in the coming months, Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology said on Feb. 25. This could parch growing areas in commodities-producing countries including Malaysia and Indonesia.
Drought may curb palm oil output, tighten inventory and push up prices, PT Mandiri Sekuritas analysts including Rizky Hidayat wrote in a report today. Palm oil futures rose have risen 5 percent this year on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives, touching an 17-month high yesterday on weather concerns.
El Nino
While the development of El Nino would affect production, Malaysia could meet its target for record palm oil output of 19.5 million tons this year, said Douglas Uggah Embas, Malaysia’s plantation industries and commodities minister.
“Water is a very important component of the palm oil plant,” said Embas in a Feb. 28 interview. “Any long stretch with a reduction of water definitely will have some impact. There will be a challenge.”
To help prevent future water shortages, Malaysia’s central government is preparing funding to help opposition-run Selangor state nationalize water assets in the region surrounding the capital and commission an additional treatment plant.
The drought’s fallout may lead to slower economic growth if it continues through March, Mustapa Mohamed, Malaysia’s international trade minister, said last week.
Peat fires and open burning causing haze
New Straits Times 5 Mar 14;
KUALA LUMPUR: Peat fires and open burning are the main causes of the haze blanketing the west coast of the peninsula for the past few days.
Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (operations and management) officer Yusri Basri said the department had been doing its best to put out the fires.
In Selangor alone, he said, 40 fires had been reported since Monday, with 234.4ha of land still on fire.
Firemen are still fighting peat fires in four areas, Bestarijaya, Elite Highway in Cyberjaya, Sungai Besar and Sungai Tengi.
Yusri said the number of peat fires and open burning had been on the rise in the past few days.
"The fires in most areas would probably stop if we get continuous rain, whether natural or through cloud seeding."
In Ipoh, state Environment Committee chairman Dr Muhamad Amin Zakaria said open burning, dust from earth works and vehicle movements had resulted in the haze and Air Pollutant Index (API) reading in Seri Manjung to hit unhealthy levels on Monday.
However, the reading improved slightly yesterday morning.
Amin said the bad air quality in Taiping, which recorded an API reading of 100 on Monday, was caused by the dry spell, open burning and a faulty smoke control system at a factory.
The factory is about 700m from the Department of Environment (DoE) monitoring station.
In Alor Star, the state DoE advised against open burning, saying that those caught face a maximum compound of RM500,000 or jail term of up to five years.
Its director, Mohamad Sayuti Sepeai, said the department had issued seven compounds totalling RM20,300 for burning domestic waste in the open. Each offender was slapped with compounds of between RM100 and RM12,000.
"We will not compromise as such activity has contributed to the air pollution and worsening haze situation in the state," he said.
On Monday, the API reading in Sungai Petani hit 99, a point short of reaching the unhealthy level.
However, the air quality in the state improved slightly yesterday as the API readings went down and remained at moderate levels.
In Pekan, the authorities fear the prolonged dry spell could trigger more bush and peat fires in Pahang, which has the biggest peat swamps in the peninsula.
Compounding the matter is that most peat swamps had dried up, exposing them to natural fire which could spread to other areas and last for weeks.
Hundreds of Fire and Rescue Department personnel have been working around-the-clock to douse fires in the state, which had destroyed large tracts of forests, particularly at dried-up peat swamps.
Villagers in the vicinity have been forced to remain indoors as strong winds drove the smoke over their homes and reducing visibility in certain areas.
In Seremban, Negri Sembilan DoE has activated the Open Burning Preventive Action Plan to deal with the worsening haze.
State DoE director Charanpal Singh said the department was monitoring all landfills in the state to ensure no open burning was carried out.
He said the department didn't want a recurrence of last year's blaze in the 2.8ha Pajam solid waste disposal dump in Nilai.
Charanpal added that DoE officers were patrolling eight dumpsites in the state around the clock, with extra attention given to the Pajam and Lukut landfills in Port Dickson.
"We are also monitoring industrial areas as factories there could contribute to the air pollution and worsen the haze."
Health Ministry issues haze advisory
New Straits Times 4 Mar 14;
THE Health Ministry has advised the public to stay indoors to avoid the heat and haze as well as to wear face masks as precautionary measures when outdoors.
Its director-general, Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, said the public should avoid open spaces under the heat and haze and to drink plenty of water to avoid health-related complications.
"Schools should also avoid conducting any outdoor activities during this period.
"Students should not be out for long hours under the heat and haze," he told the New Straits Times yesterday.
He added that the public should keep themselves updated on the Air Pollutant Index (API) of their respective areas regularly.
"Those who are likely to be affected by the haze, such as those who suffer from illness, should take full precautionary measures, including wearing face masks."
The ministry had earlier urged the public to take precautionary measures to reduce the risk of haze by wearing surgical masks.
This reminder was issued over the weekend as the haze began blanketing parts of the country.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam had said that although the API was not categorised as unhealthy in some areas, forest fires in other areas of the country could worsen the air quality.
"The public should take care of their health, avoid staying too long in the sun as well as drink plenty of boiled water when doing outdoor activities," said Subramaniam.
Rains next week may bring relief
New Straits Times 4 Mar 14;
THE prolonged dry spell, which caused water levels at rivers and dams nationwide to drop, and also contributed to the haze situation nationwide, may end next week at the earliest.
Malaysian Meteorological Department central forecast division director, Muhammad Helmi Abdullah said the inter-monsoon season, which is expected to begin next week and last until April will bring frequent rainfalls.
The season usually brings light and variable winds which could develop clouds, and subsequently lead to thunderstorms.
"The inter-monsoon season is expected to bring widespread rain, that will be more frequent in the afternoons and evenings in the peninsula as well as Sabah and Sarawak.
"The amount of rainfall is forecast to range between 100 millimetres and 300 millimetres this month, while next month it may range between 200 millimetres and 400 millimetres, which is a significant increase compared with the rainfall last month, " Helmi said.
However, a National Water Services Commission official said water rationing would only end if heavy rainfalls occur in water catchment areas, especially in critical spots such as rivers in the Klang Valley.
Cloud seeding produces heavy rain
New Straits Times 4 Mar 14;
SEVERAL areas in the Klang Valley received much-needed rainfall yesterday, thanks to the success of a cloud seeding operation by the Meteorological Department (MMD) and Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).
The operation produced rain around the city centre, Hulu Langat and Gombak, beating the long dry spell and improving visibility in some haze-affected areas.
The rainfall in Hulu Langat and Gombak could have also contributed to the increased water level in the Langat and Klang Gates Dams.
Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah said the cloud seeding operation focused on areas that had a suitable formation of cumulus clouds in the Klang Valley and not just near catchment areas.
"We hope residents in the affected areas will be pleased with the results, as the rainfall amount is forecast to be about 15 per cent more than the usual amount we get in March," he said, adding that Malaysia had conducted 128 cloud seeding operations since 1973 and held a 100 per cent success rate.
A Charlie C130 Hercules plane took off from the RMAF base in Subang at 2.30pm yesterday to carry out the operation, which took three hours.
It dispersed a sodium chloride solution into suitable cumulus clouds.
Results were seen as quickly as 30 minutes after the operation.
"We only proceed with cloud seeding if there is a more than 80 per cent success rate.
"This is why we are careful, and detailed research needs to be done before we carry out the operation," he said, adding that the rain would also improve visibility in the Klang Valley, which has been affected by the haze.
He said the ministry, MMD and RMAF would continue with the cloud seeding operation as long as the dry spell continued.
MMD director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail said the current light and variable wind was favourable for the formation of towering cumulus clouds, which was the most suitable cloud for cloud seeding.
She said the cloud seeding was also done in non-catchment areas, as it would help decrease air pollution in the Klang Valley.
"We used to do cloud seeding only in catchment areas. But now, we need to kill two birds with one stone, as the haze has worsened over the past few days."
She said initially, cloud seeding operations were supposed to take place in other critical areas, such as Johor and Negri Sembilan, but the formation of cumulus clouds could not be seen on the radar.
The plane was flown by flight commander Major Tha Thian Khim, with officials from MMD and several RMAF crew members.
MMD Atmospheric Science and Cloud Seeding Division director Azhar Ishak said the second phase of cloud seeding would be carried out at 1pm today.
Minimal increase in water levels in 2 dams
ZAFIRA ANWAR AND BALQIS NASIR New Straits Times 5 Mar 14;
SECOND ROUND: Yesterday's cloud seeding successful only in Seremban
KUALA LUMPUR: THE Semenyih and Klang Gates dams showed improved water levels with increases of 0.16m and 0.01m.
Drainage and Irrigation Department's Water Resources and Hydrology division director Datuk Hanapi Mohamad Noor said while the cloud seeding conducted by the Meteorological Department had proven successful, the increase in water levels in the dams was still minimal.
"We hope cloud seeding in the future will take place in catchment areas so that we can mitigate the decreasing water levels at dams quickly."
The water level at Klang Gates Dam was recorded at 89.88m, about 4m under the normal level, on Monday.
The dry spell has caused water levels at 20 dams and 21 rivers nationwide to dip between 0.3 and 1m since Feb 15.
The second round of cloud seeding, which focused on the southern part of the peninsula, was conducted yesterday.
Meteorological Department (MMD) Atmospheric Science and Cloud Seeding Division director Azhar Ishak said the operation focused on increasing water levels in water catchment areas.
He said 10 MMD and Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) personnel departed from the RMAF base in Subang at 3pm in a C-130 Hercules plane bearing four containers of liquid sodium chloride (salt) solution.
The operation which took an hour, began at 3.40pm in Malacca, covering Alor Gajah and Durian Tunggal.
It then concentrated on four areas in Negri Sembilan (Tampin, Rembau, Seremban and Semenyih) followed by the Klang Gates Dam in Hulu Kelang.
"Two-and-a-half tanks of salt solution were used in Malacca and Negri Sembilan, while the remaining 11/2 tanks in Hulu Kelang," he said.
However, Azhar said the cloud seeding was successful only in Seremban, where rain was reported from 4.30pm to 5.40pm.
More cloud-seeding flights are expected in Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor in the coming days. Additional reporting by Tharanya Arumugam and Mastura Yusoff
Sky may clear today
THARANYA ARUMUGAM New Straits Times 5 Mar 14;
BRIEF RESPITE: Met Dept expects haze to return in May when wind blows towards peninsula
KUALA LUMPUR: THE haze is expected to clear up from today, thanks to favourable forecasted winds.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD) is predicting a build-up of northeasterly winds from the South China Sea, which will blow the haze away from the peninsula towards Indonesia.
MMD director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail said strong winds of up to 20 knots had been forecasted and this would help disperse haze particles enveloping the west coast of the peninsula and the central region.
Prior to this, the prolonged dry spell, coupled with almost zero wind and peat fires had contributed to a build-up of haze.
However, proactive measures, especially ongoing cloud-seeding, which resulted in rain in several areas, led to improved Air Pollutant Index (API) readings and better visibility.
Among the areas that saw rain yesterday were the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya; Kajang, Klang, Port Klang, Shah Alam, Subang Jaya, Petaling Jaya, Batang Berjuntai, Puchong, Sungai Buloh, Sabak Bernam, and Kuala Selangor in Selangor; and, Tanjung Malim in Perak.
At 5pm yesterday, only four areas recorded unhealthy API readings, compared with seven on Monday. The four are Nilai and Banting (both 114), Petaling Jaya (101), and Batu Muda (104).
All the areas recorded an improved API reading at 5pm, compared with their 1pm readings of 110, 129, 121 and 115, respectively.
Port Klang, which recorded the highest Monday API reading of 131, saw the index drop to 95 (moderate) yesterday.
The air quality in other areas that approached unhealthy levels were Shah Alam (96), Port Klang (95), Seremban (94) and Muar (90).
A reading of 0 to 50 is categorised as good, 51 to 100 is moderate, 101 to 200 is unhealthy, 201 to 300 is very unhealthy and 300 and above is hazardous.
Meanwhile, MMD commercial and corporate services division director Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said the expected heavy rain during the inter-monsoon season from mid-March to early May would put an end to the hot and dry spell.
The rain was also expected to help end peat fires that had been reported since the dry spell started earlier this year.
Hisham said MMD forecast rain intensity to increase from the middle of this month with the heaviest rain expected next month.
But the bad news is that the haze could return when the wind shift direction in May.
"This is when the southwesterly winds start blowing from Sumatra towards the peninisula, bringing with it the annual smoke and haze.
"If there is open burning there (Sumatra) again this year, then Malaysians can expect the haze to return from May onwards.
"This second wave of haze is inevitable. We are constantly monitoring the wind direction and would issue alerts if the haze occurs again," he said.
Asked if the forecasted showers from the middle of this month would end the water crisis in dams, Hisham said it would depend on the amount of rainfall.
"The decrease in water levels in the dams has been huge.
"Therefore, it all depends on how much rain we get when the monsoon starts," he said, adding that no one had expected a prolonged dry spell in the country.
The dry spell had resulted in the authorities imposing water rationing, with water supply being two days on, two days off in certain areas in Selangor and the Klang Valley.
The rationing is expected to last until the end of this month.
