hemananthani sivanandam The Star 20 Sep 14;
PETALING JAYA: The unhealthy air quality recorded in Kuala Terengganu over the past two days is due to the wind carrying haze particles from Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Kuala Terengganu recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings from 4pm on Thursday till 1pm yesterday.
The readings dropped to moderate levels after 2pm.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said based on satellite images issued by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre, haze was still visible on the south of Suma-tra and central Kalimantan, Indo-nesia.
Two hotspots were identified in Pahang and investigations and action would be taken, he said in a statement.
Palanivel said the south-west monsoon was under way and the weather would transition to the inter-monsoon period soon.
“Hot and dry conditions can be expected during this period.
“Most areas in the peninsula are expected to experience normal weather conditions, but Sabah and Sarawak are expected to experience dry weather conditions in September and normal weather conditions in October,” he said.
Palanivel also said that as of yesterday, 4,705 cases of open burning were detected, with open burning in agricultural land being the highest number of cases at 1,469.
“This is followed by 1,030 cases of bushfires, 1,023 cases of open burning, 905 cases of forest fires, 159 cases in construction areas, 85 in landfills and 34 in industrial areas,” he said.
He said 47 investigation papers were opened and compound notices issued over 389 cases of open burning.
