Published: Saturday August 11, 2012 MYT 5:46:00 PM

Port Klang records unhealthy API

Dry weather till October, says DOE

KUALA LUMPUR: Port Klang is the only area in the country recording a unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) until 11am Saturday with a reading of 101.

The Department of Environment (DOE) in a statement Saturday said 13 areas recorded good air quality, moderate (35) while Port Klang recorded an unhealthy API.

An API of between 0 and 50 is good, moderate (51-100), unhealthy (101-200), very unhealthy (201-300) and dangerous (more than 301).

Among the areas moderate APIs were Alor Star and Bakar Arang, Sungai Petani (78), Seberang Perai, Penang and Bukit Rambai, Melaka (76) and Nilai and Seremban, Negeri Sembilan each recording 75 and 71.

According to DOE, satellite imaging issued by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre indicated that the number of hot spots in Sumatra, Indonesia had increased to 88 compared to 39 on Friday.

"This has caused the worsening of the quality of air on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia specifically at Port Klang.

Based on information from the Malaysian Meterological Department, the hot and dry condition in the region will prolong until October," said DOE.

In this regard, DOE has mobilised the National Haze Action Plan and activated the Open Fire Prevention Action Plan in all states to upgrade the implementation of Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) in the effort to monitor the status of air quality nationwide.

DOE also reminded the public on the open burning ban for areas in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya federal territories, Tudan, Permai Jaya and Kuala Baram in Miri, Sarawak was still in force.

The public is also urged not to carry out any open burning and cooperate by reporting any burning activity to the Fire and Rescue Department at 999 and DOE at 1-800-88-2727. - Bernama

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