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27 June 2013

HAZE UPDATE - SITUATION DRASTICALLY IMPROVES IN MALAYSIA


JUNE 27, 2013


API READING IMPROVE AS AT 2PM

The API reading for whole of Malaysia at 2pm Today continues to improve except for two areas which is above 100 - Bukit Rambai (102), Malacca and Nilai Negeri Sembilan (129). Banting API reading dropped to 98 

The number of hotspots in Sumatra reduced drastically to 45 as showers helped the situation.

click to enlarge

STATUS BACAAN INDEKS PENCEMARAN UDARA (IPU) PADA 27 JUN 2013 SELURUH MALAYSIA

Tarikh/Date: 27/06/2013 
KAWASAN Masa/Time 
AREA 10:00am 11:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 
Kangar, PERLIS 36* 35* 34* 34* 33*
Langkawi, KEDAH 43* 43* 43* 42* 42*
Alor Setar, KEDAH 30* 30* 29* 28* #
Bakar Arang, Sg. Petani, KEDAH 45* 45* 45* 42* 41*
USM, P. PINANG 45* 44* 44* 44* 45*
Perai, P. PINANG 36* 36* 35* 35* 35*
Seberang Jaya 2, Perai, P. PINANG 44* 43* 42* 43* 45*
JalanTasek, Ipoh, PERAK 51* 50* 45* 41* 38*
S K Jalan Pegoh, Ipoh, PERAK # # # # #
Kg. Air Putih, Taiping, PERAK 27* 26* 25* 24* 23*
Seri Manjung, PERAK 43* 42* 42* 42* 43*
Tanjung Malim, PERAK 68* 68* 66* 64* 63*
Pelabuhan Kelang, SELANGOR 71* 69* 68* 67* 66*
Petaling Jaya, SELANGOR 86* 85* 83* 82* 81*
Banting, SELANGOR 107* 105* 102* 100* 98*
Shah Alam, SELANGOR 78* 77* 75* 73* 72*
Kuala Selangor, SELANGOR 54* 54* 54* 53* 52*
Batu Muda, KL W.PERSEKUTUAN 79* 77* 76* 74* 72*
Cheras, KL W. PERSEKUTUAN 76* 75* 74* 73* 71*
PutraJaya, W. PERSEKUTUAN 84* 85* 85* 83* 80*
Labuan, W. PERSEKUTUAN 48* 47* 47* 47* #
Nilai, N. SEMBILAN 146* 139* 135* 132* 129*
Seremban, N. SEMBILAN 81* 80* 80* 79* 78*
Port Dickson, N. SEMBILAN 86* 84* 82* 80* 77*
Bukit Rambai, MELAKA 106* 105* 105* 104* 102*
Bandaraya MELAKA # 89* 87* 85* 83*
Pasir Gudang, JOHOR 68* 68* 69* 93c 88c
Larkin, JOHOR 63* 63* 64c 68c 69c
Muar, JOHOR 77* 76* 75* 74* 73*
Kota Tinggi, JOHOR 69* 69* 71* 72* 74*
Tanah Merah, KELANTAN 52* 52* 51* 51* 50*
SMK Tanjung Chat, Kota Bharu, 
KELANTAN 40* 39* 38* 38* 38*
Kemaman, TERENGGANU 76* 76* 76* 76* 78*
Paka, TERENGGANU 55* 55* 54* 55* 55*
Kuala Terengganu, TERENGGANU 62* 61* 60* 59* 58*
Jerantut, PAHANG 53* 53* 52* 52* 51*
Indera Mahkota, Kuantan, PAHANG 62* 62* 62* 62* 62*
Balok Baru, Kuantan, PAHANG 62* 61* 62* 62* 62*
Kuching, SARAWAK 51* 51* 51* 51* 51*
Sibu, SARAWAK 61* 61* 60* 59* 59*
Bintulu, SARAWAK 50* 49* 49* 49* #
Miri, SARAWAK 63* 63* 62* 61* 61*
ILP Miri, SARAWAK 54* 54* 54* 53* 48*
Sarikei, SARAWAK 46* 44* 42* 40* 38*
Limbang, SARAWAK 40* 41* 42* 41* 41*
Samarahan, SARAWAK 52* 52* 51* 51* 51*
Sri Aman, SARAWAK 45* 45* 45* 45* 45*
Kapit, SARAWAK 51* 51* 51* 51* 51*
Kota Kinabalu, SABAH 52* 52* 51* # #
Tawau, SABAH 43* 43* 43* 43* 43*
Keningau, SABAH 39* 38* 38* 37* 36*
Sandakan, SABAH 54* 54* 54* 54* 53*
Taksiran IPU / API Indication
0-50 Baik/Good
51-100 Sederhana/Moderate
101-200 Tidak Sihat/Unhealthy
201-300 Sangat Tidak Sihat/Very Unhealthy
>300 Berbahaya/Hazardous
# Masalah Teknikal/Technical Problem
Nota/Note: * = Habuk Halus (PM10) c = Ozon (O3)
 a = Sulfur Dioksida (SO2) d = Karbon Monoksida (CO)
 b = Nitrogen Dioksida (NO2) & = Lebih daripada satu pencemar

SCHOOLS OPEN THURSDAY ONWARDS

All schools in the country will reopen Thursday as the haze condition and Air Pollutant Index (API) showed a marked improvement with readings not exceeding 250, said Education director-general Tan Sri Abd Ghafar MahmudHe said the Education Ministry found the situation in Klang and Petaling Jaya in Selangor and Manjung in Perak, which recorded readings exceeding 250 on Tuesday, had improved Wednesday.
Abd Ghafar said the API in other parts of the country had also improved. “Following the prevailing conditions, all state Education directors have been informed that schools should start operations as normal tomorrow,” he said in a statement.Abd Ghafar said the Education Ministry was continuously monitoring the haze and API to ensure the health of students was not at risk. – Bernama
SIME DARBY DENIES OPEN BURNING

 Malaysian-owned Sime Darby, one of the world's largest palm oil producers, has provided satellite data to show that there are no fires in its operating areas in Indonesia's Sumatra. The group also reiterates its zero-burning policy, according to reports.The Bursa-listed firm was among the eight companies named by the Indonesian authorities as having set fires to clear land in Sumatra.

Singapore-listed companies Wilmar International and Golden Agri-Resources have also admitted that they do business with some of the eight firms being named. But it said these dealings are now under review. A spokesperson for Golden Agri-Resources said its own investigations have found seven forest fires in Indonesia's affected Riau province, and five of those were set for land-clearance purposes. Earlier this week, a Wilmar spokesman told the media that the company would stop doing business with any party found to have started the fires.
The slash and burn method of land clearing is 40 times cheaper than using machines, thus making it difficult for Indonesia to stop open burning,  based on research done by others, the cost per hectare in using the slash and burn method is approximately USD5 per hectare. Using machines would cost about USD200. 
CNA/de
HOTSPOTS REDUCES DRASTICALLY IN SUMATRA

Some 2000 firefighters, drafted in from the military and Java-based emergency services, landed in Riau on Tuesday night and a further 1000 were expected to arrive yesterday.



The number of Riau "hot spots", places where the fires have ignited dry peat soil, had reduced from 263 on Tuesday to 45 yesterday, according to BNPB, the Indonesian disaster mitigation agency.The worst of the northern Sumatra fires, caused by illegal forest-clearing fires going out of control in the past fortnight, are being slowly brought under control since the weekend when the national government took over management of the situation.
Overnight rain in the some areas helped ease the situation but about 150 hot spots are smouldering in other Sumatra provinces.
The peatland fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan are an annual dry season phenomenon. But the fierceness of the Riau blazes and winds directing smoke plumes over Singapore and peninsula Malaysia in the past 10 days have created the worst regional "haze" since 1997.
In northeast Sumatra, Singapore and western Malaysia schools have been closed, flights suspended, tourism disrupted and there has been a large upsurge of respiratory illnesses.
Fires in Indonesia that have blanketed Singapore and Malaysia in thick smog eased on Wednesday after heavy rain, boosting hopes of an end to Southeast Asia's worst air pollution crisis for years.
Indonesia deployed thousands of reinforcements on Tuesday to fight the fires, which are centred in Riau province. They are backed by aircraft dropping water and chemically inducing rain by cloud-seeding.



Their efforts were helped when rain fell late Tuesday and early Wednesday in several areas of  Riau, officials and residents said.
On Wednesday morning, the number of fire hotspots had fallen to 54 from 265 the previous 
day, national disaster agency official Agus Wibowo told AFP from Riau.
"The rain has definitely helped our efforts," he said. "With the improving weather on our side, we are taking the opportunity to quickly fight the blazes on land." The fires have been hard to put out as they are burning under the surface of carbon-rich peat, meaning hoses need to be pushed into the ground to douse the flames. Conditions had improved dramatically in the badly-hit city of Dumai, in Riau, on Wednesday after a storm broke at dawn, according to an AFP reporter.
Haze is an annual problem during drier summer months, when westerly monsoon winds blow smoke from forest fires and slash-and-burn land-clearing on the huge Indonesian island of Sumatra, which lies across the Malacca Strait.
But this summer's recurrence has been the worst in years.
Malaysia's environment minister travelled to Indonesia on Wednesday morning to meet his counterpart in the hopes of resolving the problem, which earlier sparked a testy exchange between Indonesia and Singapore.
In 1997-1998, a severe bout of haze cost Southeast Asia an estimated $9 billion from disruptions to air travel and other business activities.
CARDIFF POSTPONED TRIP TO MALAYSIA

(Reuters) - Premier League newcomers Cardiff City, looking to grow their brand awareness ahead of a possible IPO, have cancelled their six-day promotional tour of Malaysia this week because of the air pollution crisis in Southeast Asia.


Cardiff manager Malky Mackay and forward Craig Bellamy were among a party of club representatives who were due to conduct promotional activities in Kuala Lumpur from Thursday.
Last month Reuters exclusively reported that Malaysian billionaire owner Vincent Tan was exploring an IPO of the team after they sealed promotion to the lucrative English Premier League.
Tan, who owns 36.1 percent of the club and is the former chairman of conglomerate Berjaya Group, said the cancellation of the tour was a missed opportunity.
"A schedule of events had been put in place ahead of the opening Premier League fixtures, further raising awareness of Cardiff City Football Club in Malaysia," Tan said in a statement on the Welsh club's website on Tuesday.
"However due to the current poor air quality in Kuala Lumpur, it has been decided for the welfare of all concerned to delay the trip, re-establishing plans in the future when the manager and players can better interact with Malaysian based supporters in a suitable environment."
Kuala Lumpur remained shrouded in haze on Wednesday as the environmental crisis continued after a week of thick 'hazardous' smog covered Malaysia and neighbours Singapore.
Air quality in Singapore has improved significantly in recent days but the crisis - caused mostly from fires set on palm oil plantations on Indonesia's Sumatra island - could cost the two countries an estimated $9 billion..
While Cardiff opted against breathing in the poor air, local matches have continued to be played in Malaysia despite hazardous pollution readings and warnings.
"It is unhealthy, especially, for athletes, who train intensively. Prolonged exposure could cause cell mutations leading to cancer," National Sports Institute (NSI) chief executive officer Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz told Malaysia's New Straits Times daily on Wednesday.
Dr Ramlan said it was unhealthy to play matches if the Air Pollution Index (API) was over 100 and the paper said Tuesday's Super League match between PKNS and Selangor went ahead on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur despite a reading of 252.
English Premier League side Chelsea are due to play an exhibition match in Malaysia next month with Spanish champions Barcelona will also play a friendly in Kuala Lumpur in August.
Indonesia president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said they were doing everything they could to contain the fires on the island of Sumatra, including the deployment of military aircraft to water bomb the blazes. 


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