The Star 5 Aug 14;
PETALING JAYA: While air quality in most areas nationwide remained “good” and “moderate”, the Air Pollutant Index (API) in Sungai Petani hit “unhealthy” levels yesterday.
The API readings there reached 106, which falls under the “unhealthy” category, before improving to 97 later in the day.
Air quality in Sri Aman remained at unhealthy levels, with a steady reading of 117 throughout the day.
Readings in Batu Muda, Kuala Lumpur, nearly reached the unhealthy level, with the highest touching 100 yesterday, but stayed in the “moderate” category.
An API of up to 50 is considered good; 51 to 100 moderate; 101 to 200 unhealthy; 201 to 300 very unhealthy; and 301 and above hazardous.
Natural Resources and Environ-ment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said satellite imagery by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration detected 15 hotspots in Sumatra and 150 in Kalimantan on Wednesday.
In a statement, he added that there had been 4,419 cases of open burning locally from January until Aug 3.
Of this, there were 1,436 cases on agricultural land, 899 in forested areas and 1,011 in bush areas.
“There have been 820 cases of small open burning incidents, 137 in construction areas, 80 at dump sites and 34 in industrial areas,” he said.
He said 45 investigation papers were opened and compound notices sent to those involved in 315 open burning cases, adding that warning letters were sent out in 101 other cases.
