Malaysia: Air quality may only improve in mid-Nov, says Wan Junaidi

LOSHANA K SHAGAR The Star 19 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: The air quality in Malaysia may only improve around mid-November, when the Northeast monsoon begins and rains are expected in the region.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said human intervention was not enough to quell the raging forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

“Initially we thought the winds from South China Sea would be stronger this week and therefore stop the smog from affecting Malaysia, but the wind patterns changed with Typhoon Champi and Typhoon Koppu recently.

“This caused the wind pressure from South China Sea to drop, hence the haze is still affecting us,” he told reporters at Parliament lobby on Monday.

Dr Wan Junaidi also said Indonesia’s foreign minister had reached out to him this morning, asking for an extension period to use Malaysia’s planes which are equipped with “waterbomb” facilities to help put out forest fires.

“The plane is apparently very effective in combating the forest fires there, and Indonesia appreciates our help.

“Even so, the fires have yet to be completely extinguished, and the smog is still heading towards Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.


No end soon to the haze
NEVILE SPYKERMAN, YU JI, MUGUNTAN VANAR, NELSON BENJAMIN, RAHIMY RAHIM, LOSHANA K. SHAGAR, VINCENT LIAN, AND N. TRISHA
The Star 20 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: Schools open one day and closed the next, an increasing number of respiratory ailments and uncertainty over whether planes will be grounded or can take off could become the norm over the next five months with the unrelenting haze.

Experts say the forest fires in Indonesia, which have caused choking smoke to drift across South-East Asia, are spreading to new areas and are unlikely to be put out until next year, Reuters reported yesterday.

Despite pressure from Indonesia’s neighbours, hotspots are growing in eastern parts of the country and industry officials and analysts estimate that the smoke will last until early next year.

“Maybe it will last until December and January,” said Herry Purnomo, a scientist at the Centre for Inter­national Forestry Research headquartered in Bogor, Indonesia.

He added that the hotspots had reached Papua, a region that usually avoids widespread fires.

“It is because people are opening new agriculture areas like oil palm,” he said.

A senior official at a company active in Indonesia’s forested areas said the haze could continue until March.

Indonesia usually enters its wet season in October and November, but this year the country is expected to face moderate El Nino dry conditions, which could strengthen until December and hinder efforts to control the fires.

Indonesia’s national disaster management agency has made several forecasts for when the forest fires will be brought under control, many of which have now passed, but their latest target date is early next month.

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday, Natural Resources and Environment Minis­ter Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said human intervention was not enough to quell the raging forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

“Initially, we thought the winds from South China Sea would be stronger this week and stop the smog from affecting Malaysia, but the wind patterns changed with Typhoon Champi and Typhoon Koppu recently.

“This caused the wind pressure from South China Sea to drop, hence the haze is still affecting us.”

Dr Wan Junaidi said Indonesia’s foreign minister reached out to him yesterday, asking to use Malaysia’s plane – which is equipped with water-bombing facilities to help put out forest fires – for a longer period.

Even so, the fires have yet to be completely extinguished and the smog is still heading towards Penin­sular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, he added.

Science, Technology and Inno­vation Minister Datuk Seri Madius Tangau said that with the increase in hotspots in Indonesia, the frequent rainfall in the evenings throughout Malaysia have not been enough to reduce the haze.


Haze to continue until at least mid-November
VEENA BABULAL AND NURADZIMMAH DAIM The New Paper 19 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: If you think the haze will end anytime soon, think again.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry predicts that the smoggy conditions is expected to continue until at least mid-November.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said this was mostly due to the effects of the cyclones caused by the El Nino phenomenon.
“The smog has yet to dissipate due to the effects from El Nino. If the northeast monsoon is on time, a change in wind patterns may bring some relief by mid November," he said.

Meanwhile, Indonesia wants Malaysia to continue deploying its assets to continue fighting the blaze in Sumatra.

Wan Junaidi said requests have been made by Indonesia for the Malaysian team to remain in Sumatra.

"The aircraft, however, had to be flown back to Malaysia (temporarily) for its scheduled maintenance. Malaysia will continue deploying firefighting missions to Indonesia until the fires are put out.

"This is in line with our commitment and Prime Minister's Datuk Seri Najib Razak's promise to find a solution to the haze," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

The minister had earlier told the Dewan Rakyat that the Indonesian government has ratified the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) by depositing the ratification of the document to the Asean Secretary-General on Jan 20.

He said the agreement was reached through the Conference of the Parties to the AATHP and Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution meetings which were held periodically.

"Apart from collaborative efforts with Asean state members, Malaysia is also expected to sign an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding), which was postponed for the second time. We are pushing for it as we have yet to get a date from Indonesia.

“It will allow collaborative measures to address the matter including maintenance of peat soil that is prone to fire and monitoring to ensure that land-clearing activities including for agriculture do not involve slash-and-burn methods," he said in response to a question by Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad (BN-Kuala Kangsar) who wanted to know Malaysia's role as the Asean chairman in persuading the Indonesian government to ratify the agreement.

Wan Junaidi said Indonesia had claimed that only three per cent of the fires involving land-clearing was the fault of companies, while the remaining were caused by small holders (individuals).


Fire dept still waiting for Indonesia’s call
The Star 20 Oct 15;

NUSAJAYA: The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department has not received an official request from Indonesia for its firemen to help put out the raging peat fires.

Its director-general Datuk Wira Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim said 1,500 Malaysian firemen were available for two weeks and would do what they could to control the fires during that period.

“Both governments need to decide, as the mobilisation of such a huge team together with the equipment and vehicles will involve a huge cost,” he added.

Wan Mohd said only flooding of the area would work since much of the fires were in peatland.

“You can carry out aerial water bombing, but the best way is to fight the fires on the ground.

“There will be many challenges but with our experience in 1997, we know how to overcome these obstacles,” he said after opening the new Nusajaya fire station here yesterday.


Malaysians join global campaign to stop smog
The Star 20 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: An international campaign to get regional governments to cooperate in stopping the haze is gathering momentum here in Malaysia.

Property agent Michael Boo was among 500 Malaysians who signed a Greenpeace petition called #StoptheHaze during a roadshow at the KL Eco Film Festival (KLEFF) in Publika here over the weekend.

Boo, 50, said he fully supported calls for the governments of Malay­sia, Singapore and Indonesia to work together to reform the forestry and plantation sectors.

“There seems to be no end to the haze this year,” he added.

Boo said his 17-year-old daughter was scheduled to sit for her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination this year and hoped the examination would not be disrupted.

A Greenpeace Malaysia official said the online campaign started two weeks ago and thousands around the world have signed the petition.

He said it also aimed at getting these governments to stop the annual occurrence of forest fires and protect as well as restore the remaining peatlands.

The online campaign pointed out that the fires are raging through forests which are critical habitats for animals such as tigers, orang utans and elephants.

“These fires are a man-made crisis, the result of decades of forest clearance and peatland drainage by plantation companies.

“The fires also show the government’s failure to protect the natural environment.”

A link to the campaign can be found on Greenpeace Malaysia’s Facebook page.


Flights at Tawau airport back to normal
The Star 20 Oct 15;

KOTA KINABALU: Flight operations in and out of Sabah’s south western Tawau airport returned to normal though thick haze conditions kept schools in the district closed.

Tawau airport manager Yakub Abu Bakar said that air traffic operations were not disrupted as visibility improved from less then a kilometre early yesterday to three kilometres.

“We are still on alert as situation might change,” he said, adding that the poor visibility had disrupted flight operations on Sunday.

Tawau, which borders Indonesia’s Kalimantan in Borneo, saw the unhealthy air pollutant index hovering at 165 with little signs of lifting on yesterday as 198 schools closed.

Sabah Education director Datuk Jame Alip said some 112,000 students and 9,623 teachers were affected by the closure of the schools that not only involved Tawau but also neighbouring districts of Semporna, Kunak and Lahad Datu.

Heavy rains and strong winds over west coast Sabah during the weekend also brought back hazy conditions in the city here and Labuan.

A Meteorological Services Department spokesman said that the visibility in Labuan was 5km while in Kota Kinabalu it was 8km at noon. Other areas including Sandakan and Kudat were above 10km, the spokesman said, adding that the haze was being blown into the area due to the current south westerly winds.

There were over 150 hotspots in the Kalimantan area.

Meanwhile, the haze is causing Malaysians to spend more on supplements and herbal remedies.

Richard Lian and Josephine Woon sacrificed their favourite coffee routine as they were getting a sore throat from going out in the haze.

Woon, who suffers from sinus problems, and her husband Lian are now trying to fortify their immune system with vitamin supplements, Chamomile honey tea and herbal tea.

The couple, who own a fruit shop, said they had to take supplements and tea as they had to go outside the house every day to collect fruits for their business.

They added that there was an increased demand for lemons from their customers. Lemons are also said to help those who have phlegm.

Student Nicole Ng, 19, has asthma and is forced to stay indoors most of the time and keep the windows shut and doors closed because of the haze.

“My mom boiled leung cha (herbal tea) for my body to cool down.

“I also turn on the air conditioner to make sure I do not get an asthma attack in my own home,” said Ng who’s not missing classes right now because she is on her semester break.

Grocery shop assistant Parimala Verasamy, 36, has visited the pharmacy three times this month because of the haze.


Schools in several haze-hit states to remain closed tomorrow
JOSEPH KAOS JR The Star 19 Oct 15;

PUTRAJAYA: Schools that were closed in several states on Monday due to the haze will continue to be closed on Tuesday as the air quality shows little improvement.

The Education Ministry, in a statement Monday, announced that schools in Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Kuching and Samarahan in Sarawak, and Tawau in Sabah, will remain closed.

In addition, schools in Lahad Datu, Semporna and Kunak in Sabah, as well as Muar, Ledang and Segamat in Johor, have also been instructed to close on Tuesday.

"Based on the ministry's observation at 1pm today, the API (Air Pollution Index) level at the affected areas remained 'Unhealthy'.

"The closure will affect 1,909,842 students in 3,029 schools nationwide," the ministry said.


Contingency plans in place if haze worsens during exam period, says Education Ministry
RAHIMY RAHIM The Star 19 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: Contingency plans are in place if the haze worsens during the crucial year-end examination period, says Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

He said the Cabinet was seriously concerned with the haze but that it has a special task force to deal with any situation.

"We have to monitor the schools especially those in Form 5 and Form 6 who are in their last lap to face examinations.

"Our committee will meet every week to discuss the contingency plan.

"We have plan A...Plan B...Plan C..and see what happens if it continue until the SPM examination period," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby Monday.

Schools that were closed in several states on Monday will continue to be closed Tuesday as the air quality shows little improvement.

The closure will affect a total of 1,909, 842 students and 3, 029 schools nationwide.

Asked if action will be taken against private school who are still operating despite the order, Mahdzir said all schools that were operating with the Ministry's license should also be closed.

"Sometimes when it is near the examination period, some school principals had requested to proceed with school operations.

"As long as it is agreed upon by the school management and the parents, it is alright.

"We do not want students to be forced to go to school," he said.


Parents doubt API readings, UEC tests to go on
The Star 20 Oct 15;

KUCHING: The closure of schools here and in nearby Samarahan despite relatively low air pollutant index (API) readings has given parents more reason to doubt the system’s accuracy.

Indra Devindran, whose daughter is in Standard One, had to double check the authenticity of the 8pm news on Sunday because the API reading was only 100 then.

“In the last few weeks, there were days when the API was much higher but classes went on.

“Why are schools closed now when the API is so much lower?” Indra asked, adding that her daughter’s final exams were supposed to start yesterday.

“We have to change plans to keep her company at home as she revises.”

University lecturer Greg Wee shared the sentiment. On Sunday night, he had to check with school teachers about the closures.

Wee took the decision not to send his daughter to school for several days last month.

He said he trusted his own assumptions more than the system, which he described as likely “inaccurate”.

Wee was referring to the Depart­ment of Environment’s explanation last month that API readings published by the Malaysian Government were 24-hour averages.

In Singapore, 24-hour averages are reported alongside three-hour averages and hourly updates.

Wee said Malaysians needed to have more trust in the API system so that they could better plan their activities.

In Kuala Lumpur, the United Chinese School Committees’ Assoc­iation (Dong Zong) announced that the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) tests for Chinese independent schools would go on as scheduled despite the haze.

The exams will be held from tomorrow until next Tuesday for junior, senior high schools and vocational students.


Hazy conditions to persist until Thursday
The Star 19 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: Poor visibility conditions of less than three kilometres in waters off Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Malacca, Johor, Kuching and Tawau are expected to continue until Thursday.

The seven state territorial waters are among 17 areas shrouded in haze in the country areas and with Air Pollutant Index (API) readings of above 101 as at 8am Monday.

According to the Meteorology Department, the condition is dangerous to ships, which are not equipped with navigational devices.

A similar condition is also forecast in the Straits of Malacca and waters off Tioman, Bunguran, Kuching and Sulawesi. - Bernama

18 areas record unhealthy API readings
P. DIVAKARAN The Star 19 Oct 15;

PETALING JAYA: The haze continues to worsen as the Air Pollutant Index (API) in 18 areas nationwide recorded unhealthy levels, with Seremban almost reaching the "very unhealty" level as of 1pm Monday.

According to the Department of Environment (DOE) website, Seremban had the highest API reading at 198, with Nilai (160), Bukit Rambai (158), Malacca city (156), Port Dickson (154), Tanjung Malim (106) and Kemaman (103) at unhealthy levels.

In the Klang Valley, the areas most affected by the haze are Banting (164), Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur (164), Putrajaya (152), Port Klang (144), Shah Alam (140), Petaling Jaya (136) and Cheras (131).

Meanwhile Tawau, Sabah recorded an API of 159.

On Sunday, Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid announced that primary and secondary schools in Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Tawau in Sabah as well as Kuching and Samaraham in Sarawak would be closed on Monday due to the high API readings in those areas.

An API of 51 to 100 indicates moderate air quality, 101 to 200 is unhealthy, 201 to 300 is very unhealthy and above 300 is hazardous.