Malaysia: No Need For Cloud Seeding With Diminishing Haze - Wan Junaidi

Bernama 18 Sep 15;

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- Cloud seeding is unnecessary since the haze situation in the country is improving, said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

He said the reduced haze in the region was due to changes in the wind, shifting from the southwest to the east starting yesterday, and was expected to last until Monday.

"With the change in the wind, the air quality in several parts of the country has improved," he told reporters after chairing a special meeting on the haze at Wisma Sumber Asli here Friday.

Wan Junaidi said the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading at 8 am dropped to the moderate level (below 100) in most areas except in Manjung (Perak), Kuching, Samarahan and Sri Aman (Sarawak) and Seberang Jaya (Penang).

He explained that cloud seeding was only done when the API reading reaches 150 and persists for 72 hours.

"From the data (current one), we don't need cloud seeding. But it is up to the National Security Council to decide if there is a need," he said.

Cloud-seeding operations in peninsular Malaysia involving the Malaysian Meteorological Department and the Royal Malaysian Air Force were carried out from Tuesday to Thursday.

Wan Junaidi said cloud-seeding operations in Sarawak, however, could not be carried out as scheduled following dry and stable atmospheric conditions, which did not promote cloud formation.

The haze is expected to clear after the end of the Southwest Monsoon season in the middle of this month, followed by the inter-monsoon season until November. During the transition period, the country will experience wetter conditions mainly in the states in the West Coast and western Sabah.

"We may face flash floods in several parts of the country. Now, the floods will occur in the northern part of the peninsula. This will take place from now until October," he said.

On talks with his Indonesian counterpart to find a solution to the haze problem, Wan Junaidi said the meeting, scheduled for Sept 25, was again postponed at the request of the Indonesian government due to the emergency situation caused by the haze in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

Wan Junaidi, meanwhile, slammed those who blamed Malaysia and called on the government to be accountable for Malaysian companies in Indonesia for starting the forest fires causing the haze in the region.

"I don't agree with this allegation. You cannot blame Malaysia or the ministry. If you want to blame, blame the company or individuals responsible (for the haze problem) but not the government or ministry," he said.

As such, he said, the Indonesian authorities must investigate and take action against the companies responsible for the burning, regardless of whether they were Malaysian or Indonesian.

Meanwhile, the government will study the effects of the haze on the country's agricultural industry, particularly plants, said Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

He said the haze situation affected sunlight, which was key for all crops. "If the haze lasts for too long and is thick, we are worried about the impact on crops. This is a matter of great concern", he told reporters after visiting the Permanent Food Production Park at the Serdang Agricultural Department Complex Friday.

-- BERNAMA

Haze clears up in most areas
The Star 19 Sep 15;

PETALING JAYA: The haze cleared up a bit yesterday, with the number of areas recording unhealthy air quality dropping by half throughout the country.

Seven areas had unhealthy air pollutant index (API) readings of more than 100 as at 5pm yesterday, down from 14 at 5pm Thursday.

Penang, Kedah and Perak were the only states which recorded unhealthy API readings. The highest was at Seberang Jaya 2, Perai, at 125; followed by Universiti Sains Malaysia (119); Langkawi (117); Bakar Arang in Sungai Petani (117); Seri Manjung (109); Taiping (108); and Perai (107).

The air quality in Sarawak improved after rain overnight and a change in wind direction reduced the haze level.

The API fell to below 100 in all parts of the state by 4pm, with Kuching recording 74 and Sama­rahan 85, compared to over 200 on Thursday.

At the Kuching Waterfront, there was relief among 12 local teams competing in a qualifying race for the Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta this weekend that the situation was better.

Rower Caitlyn Ong said her team did not train on Thursday when the air quality was at a very unhealthy level.

“It was horrible. But now we’re relieved that we are able to take part in the race,” she said.

The Klang Valley also recorded moderate API readings, with Batu Muda at Kuala Lumpur at 85, Shah Alam also at 85, Cheras at 70, and Putrajaya at 69.

HAZE: Visibility of less than 5km until Sunday
New Straits Times 18 Sep 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: Visibility of less than five kilometres in the waters of the Melaka Strait and waters off Pahang and Sarawak is expected to persist until Sunday, said the Meteorological Department.

It said in a statement that the situation was dangerous to ships without navigation systems.

The low visibility prevails in the waters off Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and Pahang, as well as in Kuching, Rejang, Mukah, Bintulu and Miri in Sarawak, it added. – BERNAMA