Ashley Tang The Star 19 Aug 19;
PETALING JAYA: The air quality in Peninsular Malaysia has worsened slightly with Rompin in Pahang Air Pollutant Index (API) readings jumping from “unhealthy” to “very unhealthy” zone.
According to Department of Environment (DOE) data, the API recorded in Rompin was at 223 as at 4pm, yesterday.
On Saturday, Rompin’s API was “unhealthy” at 125.
Conditions in Kuala Lumpur remained at moderate levels during the weekend, with the API at between 65 and 67.
In Selangor, Johan Setia saw a slight increase in the API readings.
The reading recorded was at 95 compared to 92 on Saturday.
Other areas in Selangor such as in Banting (82), Petaling Jaya (81), and Shah Alam (83) maintained its “moderate” readings.
The API readings in Kedah and Perlis also worsened from “good” to “moderate”, while Sabah maintained its “good” API readings.
Other places nationwide such as in Negri Sembilan, Johor, Perak, Penang, Kelantan and Terengganu recorded “moderate” API levels.
Meanwhile, in Sarawak, Sri Aman posted an API reading of 252 and generally the haze situation here and in Miri is still bad.
The API reading worsened compared to Saturday which was at 247.
The air quality in SK Kuala Baram 2 station and the Miri Industrial Training Institute station both improved.
SK Kuala Baram 2 station recorded an API reading of 80 from 119, while the Miri Industrial Training Institute station recorded a reading of 161 from 222.
As of yesterday morning, the DOE recorded one “hot spot” (forest fire) in Sarawak
An API reading of between 0 and 50 is good, while 51 to 100 is moderate, 01 to 200 is unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and 301 and above is deemed hazardous.
The public can also refer to the Department of Environment (DoE) website at or by downloading the MyIPU smartphone app on ‘Google Play’ to get hourly API readings
According to the Asean Specialised Meterological Centre (ASMC) weather and haze outlook posted on Saturday at 6.25pm, it noted that hotspot activities in Sumatra and Kalimantan are likely to persist in the country.
ASMC’s satellite monitoring system has also indicated in recent times that open burning is also coming from that direction.
After brief respite, haze worsens in Miri, Sri Aman
New Straits Times 17 Aug 19;
KUCHING: The air quality has deteriorated again in Sri Aman and Miri, in Sarawak.
The Air Pollutants Index (API) reading for Sri Aman and Miri were both ‘very unhealthy’ at 10am today, registering 241 and 220 respectively, Bernama reported.
This contrasts with the readings at midnight, which were ‘moderate’, at 76 and 67, respectively, the Department of Environment reported.
An API reading of between 0 and 50 is ‘good’, 51 to 100 is ‘moderate’, 101 to 200 is ‘unhealthy’, 201 to 300 ‘very unhealthy’, and 301 and above is ‘hazardous’.
As of 8am today, the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department received 17 more reports on bush fires in the state, bringing the total to 494 cases since Aug 1.
In total, 1,391.73 acres have been burnt, including two houses – one each in Kampung Sangki, Simunjan and Kampung Sedi, Pulau Bruit.
“On average, the department responds to 30 cases of bush fires every day and for today, Kuching recorded the highest number at eight cases, followed by Miri (four) and Betong (three),” the Department added.
Haze situation in Sri Aman, Miri still bad
Bernama New Straits Times 18 Aug 19;
KUCHING: The haze situation in Sri Aman and Miri in Sarawak is still bad with Air Pollutants Index (API) reading for Sri Aman as at 9am had risen to 252 as compared to 4pm yesterday.
However, for Miri, there was some improvement with the API reading dropping from 221 at 4pm yesterday to 158, according Department of Environment data.
As for Kuala Baram, there was also much improvement with the API going down to 78 as compared to 119 yesterday.
The air quality is good if the API reading is between zero and 50; moderate if it is between 51 and 100; unhealthy if it is between 101 and 200; very unhealthy if it is between 201 and 300; and hazardous if it is above 301.
The public can refer to the Department of Environment (DOE) website at http://apims.doe.gov.my/v2/ or by downloading the MyIPU smartphone app on ‘Google Play’ to get hourly API readings.
Meanwhile, Sarawak recorded one “hot spot” (forest fire) as at 9am today. — BERNAMA
