Malaysia: Clear skies are here again

The Star 30 Oct 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: There were clear skies in many parts of the country with the Department of Environment recording 40 areas with healthy air pollutant index (API) readings and 12 at moderate level.

At noon yesterday, among the areas with healthy readings were Larkin Lama (49); Malacca (48); Petaling Jaya (47); Port Dickson (46); Tanjung Malim (45); Bintulu (44); Miri (43) and Sandakan and Putrajaya (both 40).

Areas with moderate readings included Cheras, Kuala Lumpur (90); Banting (69); Port Klang (63); Bakar Arang, Sungai Petani (58); Kota Kinabalu (55); Pasir Gudang (54); and Seberang Jaya 2, Perai (53).

Meanwhile, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun spoke on ways to avoid forest burning that caused the haze.

Speaking in Kota Kinabalu at an environmental dialogue organised by the Sabah Environment Protection Department and Natural Resources and Environment Board of Sarawak, he said Indonesia could learn sustainable palm oil planting from parts of east Malaysia, which had similar peat soil conditions.

“Not that I’m being a smart aleck, but I think Indonesia can also learn from Sarawak because Sarawak doesn’t have haze issues,” he said.