Wednesday August 6, 2008
Expect more hazy days
KUALA LUMPUR: The haze is expected to continue a little longer as the number of hotspots in Sumatra is still hovering around the 150 mark and with little forecast of rain here.
In Sumatra, the number of hotspots increased from 141 to 151 yesterday, but is much lower than the 285 on Sunday. In Borneo, the number of hotspots jumped to 253 yesterday from 43 on Monday.
Satellite pictures showed no hotspots in the peninsula yesterday; there were two on Monday.
The Meteorological Services Department's warning of low visibility – less than 5km – over northern Straits of Malacca waters still holds until tomorrow.
Low visibility: The KL Tower seen from the flyover along Jalan Damansara at around 3.30pm Tuesday. — KAMAL SELLEHUDDIN/The Star The number of areas with moderate Air Pollutant Index (API) readings increased from 31 on Monday to 34 at 5pm yesterday.
Tanjung Malim, which recorded unhealthy readings yesterday, has improved to a moderate 64.
Healthy API readings are between 0 and 50, and moderate from 51 to 100. Most moderate readings yesterday were between 51 and 70 except for Port Klang (78), Seberang Jaya 2 (87) and Kg Air Putih in Taiping, Perak (76).
According to a department officer, there will be some rain in Kelantan, Perak and Pahang.
“The dry weather is expected to continue over the next few days, though the Klang Valley can except intermittent showers,” he said.
Natural Resources and Environment Ministry secretary-general Datuk Suboh Mohd Yassin said Malaysia was working closely with Indonesia and Singapore to tackle the haze but added that the public also needed to play their part.
“Smokers sometimes throw cigarette butts indiscriminately and this can cause a fire. People should also be responsible and not resort to open burning,” he said.
At a separate function, Science, Technology and Innovations Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said the department was ready to implement cloud seeding to tackle the haze if needed.
Parts of the Elite Highway in Sepang is still shrouded in smog resulting from the 40ha peat fire that began on Sunday near the KL International Airport.
Sepang Kuala Langat fire chief Supt Sharikan Bustaman said 132 fire-fighters from 13 stations are fighting the fire, together with 18 members from the Kuala Langat and Selangor Forestry Department and six from the Sepang and Kuala Langat Drainage and Irrigation Department.
KLIA general manager Daud Hosnan said the sky over the airport was clear.
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