New Straits Times 26 Jun 14;
SHAH ALAM: The state government will seize land from owners who repeatedly carry out open burning.
Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim yesterday reminded landowners that they were responsible for their own land.
“If we find rampant open burning repeatedly in the same location, the state will seize the land concerned.
“Landowners are responsible for taking care of their land,” he said after the weekly exco meeting here yesterday.
Khalid was commenting on the cases of open burning in the state that were contributing to the haze problem.
He said the state was monitoring the situation, adding that notices had already been issued to several landowners in the Klang and Kuala Langat districts.
He stressed that the Selangor government would not seize a piece of land after only one offence but would take action against repeat offenders.
8 areas record unhealthy air quality
New Straits Times 25 Jun 14;
PUTRAJAYA: Eight areas have recorded unhealthy air quality in the latest Department of Environment (DOE) air quality monitoring station report.
Health Minister, Datuk Seri Dr S.Subramaniam said the eight areas were Nilai with an air pollutant index (API) of 104, Banting (108), Port Klang (107), Petaling Jaya (103), Shah Alam (106), Putrajaya (112), Batu Muda Kuala Lumpur (103) and Cheras (106).
“The Health Ministry has been monitoring the haze condition in the country via 52 monitoring stations starting from 7 am on Monday to 9 am this morning,” he said in a statement here today.
He said 32 other areas showed moderate air quality, 10 areas had good air quality and there were no record on two areas.
As such, all health clinics and hospitals have been told to be prepared to face an increase in the number of haze related patients and ensure adequate supply of medicine and equipment such as face masks.
Subramaniam said the ministry through the state health departments were monitoring haze-related diseases (upper respiratory tract infections, asthma and sore eyes) at clinics in areas affected by haze.
He said based on the 2014 National Haze Action Plan, schools, kindergartens and nurseries could be closed without having to obtain ministry order if the API reading exceeded 200 for more than 48 hours.
“At a reading of between 101-150, high-risk students should stop outdoor activities and all school outdoor activities ceased at API reading of between 151-200,” he said.
In this regard, the ministry is advising the people to take precautionary measures such as reducing physical activities outdoor and drinking sufficient amount of water.
The ministry has also put up various preventive measures in its website at www.infosihat.gov.my or www.moh.gov.my.
– BERNAMA
Penang to become hotter and hazier
The Star 26 Jun 14;
GEORGE TOWN: The hot and hazy situation in Penang is expected to get worse over the next five days, says a state Department of Environment spokesman.
Saying that no rain is expected over the next few days, he urged the public not to heighten the problem through open burning.
The Air Pollutant Index (API) reading at Universiti Sains Malaysia yesterday was 57 at 7am, and 59 at 11am, 62 at 1pm, but went up to 78 at 4pm.
Seberang Jaya recorded a steady API increase from 63 at 7am to 72 by 4pm.
Similarly, the API for Prai went up from 59 at 7am to 66 at 4pm.
Visibility in Bayan Lepas dropped from 7km (8am) to 5km at 1pm, while visibility in Butterworth dropped from 5km to 3km and at Prai from 7km to 6km during the same period.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Meteorological Department forecasts fair weather for Penang, with no rain until July 1.
Putajaya Lake targeted as water source when El Nino hits
The Star 26 Jun 14;
SEPANG: Putrajaya Lake may be turned into a water source for the Klang Valley if dams reach critical levels due to the El Nino phenomenon, which is expected to hit the country at the end of this month.
Energy, Green Technology and Water Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said other lakes being considered for the same purpose included the Mines in Seri Kembangan, if the Health Ministry confirmed that water in the lakes were safe for consumption.
He said this alternative source of water was among the proposals to be tabled at the first meeting of the El Nino Committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on June 30.
"We also plan to use underground sources to supplement the water supply needed, whether for domestic or industrial use, during the dry season.
"The El Nino Committee, however, would need to first obtain data on water levels in the dams throughout the country before making a decision," he told a news conference after officially opening the Tune Hotel KLIA2, here on Wednesday.
Asked if water rationing would return, Mahdzir said the Ministry would need clarification from the Meteorological Department on the change of the southwest monsoon in the second week of July.
He said the hot weather experienced since last week was not due to the El Nino phenomenon, but caused by the southwest monsoon from the Indian Ocean.
"In the second week of July, we will see whether the southwest monsoon turns its course from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and if this happens, the El Nino phenomenon has hit us.
"The El Nino phenomenon which causes prolonged drought, would have a big impact on our country involving five sectors, namely domestic, agriculture, industry, power generation and health," he said. - Bernama
Dams’ water level dropping
New Straits Times 26 Jun 14;
KUALA LUMPUR: The water levels of dams in the Klang Valley remain below normal because of the hot and dry weather.
As of 8am yesterday, the Batu dam recorded a slight drop at 101.29m, below its normal level of 102m.
The Sungai Selangor dam also registered
a drop from its normal of level 220m to 194m.
The water levels of Klang Gates dams was 92.75m, Langat (215.33m), Semenyih (108.67m) and Sungai Tinggi (53.84m).
