KUALA LUMPUR 8TH MOST VISITED CITY IN THE WORLD PICTURE - VIDEO BY ROBERT WHITWORTH

KUALA LUMPUR LIKE YOU NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

Robert Whitworth did a video of Kuala Lumpur in Time Lapse:with super-modern buildings juxtaposed with various cultural & tourist enclaves and with a little of Asia's chaos thrown in. My time lapse explores how the city changes from day to night highlighting how spaces dramatically alter during the course of a few hours.

As summarised by Marc Lourdes on Yahoo! Malaysia: 
"5 months. 400 hours of solid work. 4 cameras. 40 shoots. 640 gigabytes of data. 19,997 photographs."

NOTE : THE MUSIC PLAYER CONTROLS ARE AT THE BOTTOM BAR OF YOUR SCREEN AS YOU MAY HAVE TO PAUSE IT TO WATCH THE VIDEOS BELOW

5 months. 400 hours of solid work. 4 cameras. 40 shoots. 640 gigabytes of file space. 19,997 photographs. 

That's how much work architectural photographer Rob Whitworth put in to create his dazzling 2 minute 36 second time lapse video of Kuala Lumpur. 

When asked why he chose to create a time lapse video of Malaysia's largest metropolis, Whitworth's response is that Kuala Lumpur fascinates him.

"It's hard not to be blown away by the Petronas Twin Towers. At night they are just beautiful. The towers, together with the monorail, give the city an almost science fiction feel. 
"I was fascinated by the city's mixture of super-modern buildings existing alongside its varied cultural enclaves and with a little of Asia’s chaos thrown in,"he tells Yahoo! Malaysia.   

Whitworth, who works out of Singapore, says time lapse has always interested him. He recalls one of his first high school projects, which was to document the passing of time by photographing flowers and fruit in their prime and revisiting them a few weeks later. 

"I was intrigued at how many things constantly go on all around us which pass by largely unnoticed. Time lapse provides a great way to use a camera to show the world as we cannot see it," he says.

His love affair with time lapse videos has won him critical acclaim. A recent video of Ho Chi Minh City posted online went viral and garnered 1.5 million views. That same video also won the Jury Award at the recent EcoKnights KL Eco Film Festival.

Whitworth says he was drawn to the idea of exploring how Kuala Lumpur changes from day to night when he began his project here. 

"I was walking down Jalan Alor shortly after arriving in KL. It struck me how much the street changed and transformed during the course of the day. 

"I liked the idea of exploring how the city changes from day to night, how spaces dramatically change during the course of a few hours. This developed into one of the themes shown in the video of scenes switching from day to night," he says. 

But enough talk. Here's Whitworth's tribute to Malaysia's modern marvel. Watch it for yourself and bask in the city's radiance.

Source: Yahoo News

MALAYSIA IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD:

WORLD'S TOP 10 SHOPPING CITIES - KL 4th -World (CNN) & 2nd -Asia Pacific (GSI)

http://bestfbkl.blogspot.com/2013/06/worlds-top-10-shopping-cities-kl-4th-in.html

Malaysia has 3 of Top 10 largest shopping malls in the World.

http://bestfbkl.blogspot.com/2013/06/3-of-top-10-largest-malls-in-world-2013.html

Malaysia has 3 of top 10 largest Hotels in the World

http://bestfbkl.blogspot.com/2013/06/mecca-hotel-tower-largest-hotel-in.html

Petronas Twin Towers is the 7th tallest building & tallest twin towers in the World!

http://bestfbkl.blogspot.com/2013/06/petronas-twin-towers-7th-tallest.html

WTO - Malaysia is the second most visited destination in Asia & 9th in the World

http://bestfbkl.blogspot.com/2013/06/malaysia-2nd-most-visited-destination.html

Rainforest World Music Festival voted as one of the top 25 Festivals in the World

http://bestfbkl.blogspot.com/2013/06/rainforest-world-music-festival-voted.html

FORBES - Kuala Lumpur 8th Most Visited City in the World

http://bestfbkl.blogspot.com/2013/06/forbes-june-2013-kuala-lumpur-8th-most.html

Top 10 Retirement Havens in the World Rank Malaysia Third.
http://bestfbkl.blogspot.com/2013/06/malaysia-3-top-retirement-haven-in.html

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 Mahmud. He 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.

- AFP/de

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. 

HAZE IN MALAYSIA & SINGAPORE - ITS CLEAR SKIES AFTER HAZY DAYS!

JUNE 28, 2013

WHOLE MALAYSIA API READING - BELOW 100 AS AT 10AM

The Haze situation in Malaysia improved tremendously as the API readings showed all areas were below 100 with Kota Tinggi just under that mark with 98.

Hopefull the Indonesian authorities are successful in putting out the fires in Sumatra and there will be more showers. 

Now that the end is in sight the  Indonesian investigators are building criminal cases against eight Southeast Asian companies they suspect of being responsible for raging fires that have blanketed neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia with hazardous smog.

The Environment Ministry last week named the firms for their alleged role in Southeast Asia's worst air pollution crisis in 16 years, which has raised concerns over public health and hurt business and tourism in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Owners of five of the plantations have denied any wrongdoing. Reuters has not been able to contact the others.

A 2009 law carries tough penalties for environmental crimes, although such regulations have rarely been enforced due to Indonesia's endemic corruption and sprawling geography.

And investigators could find it hard to pin the blame on specific firms because of the complex ownership of palm oil concessions and pulp and paper holdings on Indonesia's Sumatra island where most of the fires are burning.

But outrage from Singapore as well as environmental groups is putting pressure on Jakarta. Fires are used to clear land on plantations and can burn for weeks because of peat deposits below the surface.

"This is the first major haze since the new law. This is the first big opportunity for the government to use it," said Peter Kanowski, deputy director general of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), a conservation organisation based in Indonesia.

Three of the firms under investigation are owned by government-linked companies in Malaysia. Unlike Singapore, Malaysia has not publicly admonished Indonesia over the smog.

An initial on-the-ground investigation by dozens of officials in Sumatra's Riau province found evidence of fires on land licensed to PT Tunggal Mitra Plantations and PT Bhumireksa Nusa Sejati, said Sudariyono, the Environment Ministry's enforcement chief.

The two firms are owned by the world's largest palm oil planter by landbank, Malaysia's Sime Darby Bhd , via its Indonesian subsidiary Minamas Plantation.

In a statement, Sime Darby said the latest satellite maps from the U.S. government agency NASA, overlaid with the company's own map of its concessions, showed no fires at Tunggal Mitra Plantations.

There were three fires in Bhumireksa Nusa Sejati's concession area. However, they were outside the company's operating area, said Sime Darby, which is backed by state funds in Malaysia.

Sime Darby cited Indonesian regulations, imposed in the 1980s, under which local farmers can use concession land without restrictions. The firm said it has not cleared land since April.

Some farmers illegally clear land using "slash and burn" techniques during the June to September dry season.

Fourteen people had been arrested this week for lighting fires, national police spokesman Boy Rafli Amir said. He declined to say if any were employed by the named companies, but added there was evidence of fires at concessions owned by all eight firms.

Sudariyono said investigators had visited concessions of all the firms and were using GPS data to establish the location of fires. They were focusing initially on "going after the local companies" and would pursue any links to parent firms later.

He declined to give more details, but said more companies would be investigated.

TOUGH PENALTIES

The Environment Ministry and the police are leading the investigation and say they will decide if there is enough evidence to recommend the attorney general's office pursue the case further.

A team of 58 police officers and nine officials from the Environment Ministry were on the ground in Riau, the epicentre of the fires, police said.

Action has rarely been taken against plantation companies since the first major Indonesian haze crisis in 1997, when smog disrupted shipping and air travel across Southeast Asia.

Under the 2009 law, a person or company found guilty of starting a forest fire can face up to 10 years in jail and 10 billion rupiah in fines.

A guilty company can also have their profits seized, operations shut down and be sued for damages.

Palm oil is a key ingredient for products such as cooking oil and biofuel. Global demand has nearly doubled in seven years to more than 51 million tonnes, with much of it produced in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Industry data show oil palms cover about 5 million hectares in Malaysia and more than 8 million hectares in Indonesia.

Among the other firms Sudariyono listed was PT Multi Gambut Industri, known officially in Malaysia as PT TH Indo Plantations.

It is a unit of the Malaysian state-linked Pilgrimage Fund Board. Kuala Lumpur-listed TH Plantations Berhad , also a unit of the fund, manages TH Indo Plantations.

TH Plantations said it had "zero-burning" policies, adding it had observed instances of open burning outside the boundaries of the estates it managed. - Reuters  

API READING ALL OVER MALAYSIA AS AT 11AM
KAWASAN Masa/Time Masa/Time Masa/Time Masa/Time Masa/Time Masa/Time Masa/Time Masa/Time Masa/Time Masa/Time
AREA 10:00am 11:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm
Kangar, PERLIS 36*
Langkawi, KEDAH 43*
Alor Setar, KEDAH 35*
Bakar Arang, Sg. Petani, KEDAH 50*
USM, P. PINANG 48*
Perai, P. PINANG 51*
Seberang Jaya 2, Perai, P. PINANG 55*
JalanTasek, Ipoh, PERAK 43*
S K Jalan Pegoh, Ipoh, PERAK 46*
Kg. Air Putih, Taiping, PERAK 18*
Seri Manjung, PERAK 50*
Tanjung Malim, PERAK 27*
Pelabuhan Kelang, SELANGOR 54*
Petaling Jaya, SELANGOR 47*
Banting, SELANGOR 62*
Shah Alam, SELANGOR 43*
Kuala Selangor, SELANGOR 39*
Batu Muda, KL W.PERSEKUTUAN 40*
Cheras, KL W. PERSEKUTUAN 48*
PutraJaya, W. PERSEKUTUAN 51*
Labuan, W. PERSEKUTUAN 46*
Nilai, N. SEMBILAN 72*
Seremban, N. SEMBILAN 58*
Port Dickson, N. SEMBILAN 53*
Bukit Rambai, MELAKA 73*
Bandaraya MELAKA 56*
Pasir Gudang, JOHOR 63*
Larkin, JOHOR 60*
Muar, JOHOR 47*
Kota Tinggi, JOHOR 93*
Tanah Merah, KELANTAN 42*
SMK Tanjung Chat, Kota Bharu, 
KELANTAN 27*
Kemaman, TERENGGANU 66*
Paka, TERENGGANU 53*
Kuala Terengganu, TERENGGANU 53*
Jerantut, PAHANG 34*
Indera Mahkota, Kuantan, PAHANG 58*
Balok Baru, Kuantan, PAHANG 73*
Kuching, SARAWAK 50*
Sibu, SARAWAK 33*
Bintulu, SARAWAK 31*
Miri, SARAWAK 56*
ILP Miri, SARAWAK #
Sarikei, SARAWAK 28*
Limbang, SARAWAK 44*
Samarahan, SARAWAK 51*
Sri Aman, SARAWAK 46*
Kapit, SARAWAK #
Kota Kinabalu, SABAH 46*
Tawau, SABAH 36*
Keningau, SABAH 39*
Sandakan, SABAH 44*
Taksiran IPU / API Indication
0-50 Baik/Good
51-100 Sederhana/Moderate
101-200 Tidak Sihat/Unhealthy

201-300 Sangat Tidak Sihat/Very Unhealthy

******************************

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 Mahmud. He 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.

- AFP/de

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. 

***************


JUNE 26, 2013

PRAYERS FOR DIVINE INTERVENTION ANSWERED

On Tuesday afternoon as Indonesia's apology was accepted by Malaysia, hundreds of Muslims performed the "Istisqa" prayers at the National Mosque for rain to ease the haze which has affected most parts of the country. Their prayers seem to be answered when showers in Malaysia and Singapore helped in seeing improved API figures for cities and areas in both countries.

Bernama Pic

The showers of blessing poured this evening in several areas where the haze was bad in Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya and Subang Jaya in Selangor; several areas in Perak; Muar in Johor; as well as in Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur and Terengganu. brought relief to the people 

The spokesman told Bernama rain had been forecast later today for Port Klang in Selangor and Seri Manjung in Perak at the hazardous level.

Up to this morning, Port Klang, Selangor and Seri Manjung, Perak were categorised as hazardous areas with  a  Air Pollutant Index (IPU)  of 163 and 157 respectively. Coming in close next is Pagoh at 151 and Kuala Selangor is at 141

The director-general of the Malaysian Meteorological Department, Che Gayah Ismail, said cloud-seeding would continue tomorrow with the assistance of the Royal Malaysian Air Force. 

- Bernama

Singapore was also hit yesterday by an intense thunderstorm accompanied by hail, which uprooted trees across the island, damaging sheltered walkways, public signboards, cars and motorcycles. It saw hail falling on the western part of the island for the first time in 4 years.The hailstones were about the size of 10-cent or 20-cent coins, The most intense thunderstorm was over the western part of Singapore, where public sightings of hail were reported

The Air Pollutant Index (API) readings are updated on an hourly basis by DOE on its website.

http://www.nre.gov.my/Malay/Documents/IPU/Status%20IPU.pdf

Click to Enlarge

STATUS BACAAN INDEKS PENCEMARAN UDARA (IPU) PADA 26 JUN 2013 SELURUH MALAYSIA

(Sumber : AIR POLLUTANT INDEX MANAGEMENT SYSTEM)

Tarikh/Date: 26/06/2013 updated till 6am

KAWASAN Masa/Time

AREA 12:00am 1:00am 2:00am 3:00am 4:00am 5:00am 6:00am

Kangar, PERLIS 61* 61* 62* 62* 62* 62*

Langkawi, KEDAH 52* 51* 51* 51* 51* 51*

Alor Setar, KEDAH 60* 59* 58* 58* 58* 57*

Bakar Arang, Sg. Petani, KEDAH 76* 74* 73* 71* 69* 68*

USM, P. PINANG 87* 83* 80* 76* 72* 68*

Perai, P. PINANG 83* 80* 77* 74* 70* 66*

Seberang Jaya 2, Perai, P. PINANG 92* 88* 84* 78* 73* 69*

JalanTasek, Ipoh, PERAK 128* 121* 117* 114* 112* 107*

S K Jalan Pegoh, Ipoh, PERAK 220* 194* 180* 174* 161* 151*

Kg. Air Putih, Taiping, PERAK 109* 104* 99* 94* 90* 86*

Seri Manjung, PERAK 198* 192* 185* 176* 167* 157*

Tanjung Malim, PERAK 141* 136* 131* 126* 123* 118*

Pelabuhan Kelang, SELANGOR 300* 263* 225* 192* 175* 163*

Petaling Jaya, SELANGOR 140* 135* 130* 125* 121* 117*

Banting, SELANGOR 150* 143* 137* 132* 128* 122*

Shah Alam, SELANGOR 166* 159* 151* 143* 136* 130*

Kuala Selangor, SELANGOR 167* 159* 153* 149* 145* 141*

Batu Muda, KL W.PERSEKUTUAN 124* 120* 115* 112* 109* 106*

Cheras, KL W. PERSEKUTUAN 119* 115* 111* 108* 105* 103*

PutraJaya, W. PERSEKUTUAN 137* 134* 130* 126* 123* 119*

Labuan, W. PERSEKUTUAN 63* 63* 63* 63* 63* 63*

Nilai, N. SEMBILAN 131* 144* 147* 148* 148* 148*

Seremban, N. SEMBILAN 126* 125* 123* 121* 120* 120*

Port Dickson, N. SEMBILAN 119* 116* 113* 111* 109* 107*

Bukit Rambai, MELAKA 131* 128* 125* 122* 119* 117*

Bandaraya MELAKA 109* 106* 103* 101* 99* 97*

Pasir Gudang, JOHOR 58* 58* 59* 59* 59* 59*

Larkin, JOHOR 66* 66* 66* 65* 65* 65*

Muar, JOHOR 116* 108* 98* 88* 79* 74*

Kota Tinggi, JOHOR 63* 65* 67* 71* 72* 73*

Tanah Merah, KELANTAN 78* 77* 77* 77* 76* 76*

SMK Tanjung Chat, Kota Bharu, 

KELANTAN 90* 87* 85* 84* 83* 82*

Kemaman, TERENGGANU 94* 93* 93* 92* 91* 90*

Paka, TERENGGANU 75* 74* 73* 73* 72* 72*

Kuala Terengganu, TERENGGANU 88* 88* 87* 87* 86* 86*

Jerantut, PAHANG 100* 97* 94* 92* 89* 87*

Indera Mahkota, Kuantan, PAHANG 72* 71* 70* 69* 68* 67*

Balok Baru, Kuantan, PAHANG 78* 78* 77* 77* 76* 75*

Kuching, SARAWAK 55* 55* 54* 53* 52* 51*

Sibu, SARAWAK 80* 80* 80* 81* 80* 78*

Bintulu, SARAWAK 52* 52* 52* 51* 52* 53*

Miri, SARAWAK 70* 70* 70* 70* 70* 70*

ILP Miri, SARAWAK 65* 65* 66* 66* 66* 66*

Sarikei, SARAWAK 67* 66* 66* 65* 65* 64*

Limbang, SARAWAK 48* 47* 46* 45* 44* 44*

Samarahan, SARAWAK 60* 60* 59* 58* 57* 56*

Sri Aman, SARAWAK 76* 73* 72* 71* 70* 69*

Kapit, SARAWAK 54* 52* 51* 51* 49* 47*

Kota Kinabalu, SABAH 70* 70* 70* 69* 69* 68*

Tawau, SABAH 40* 39* 39* 39* 39* 39*

Keningau, SABAH 55* 55* 55* 55* 54* 54*

Sandakan, SABAH 54* 54* 54* 54* 54* 55*

Taksiran IPU / API Indication

0-50 Baik/Good

51-100 Sederhana/Moderate

101-200 Tidak Sihat/Unhealthy

201-300 Sangat Tidak Sihat/Very Unhealthy

>301 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

RUNNING OUT OF WATER AT GROUND ZERO:

Politicians can talk and pontificate all they want but, on ground zero in Indonesia's Riau province, it is the brave and hardy souls who are bearing the brunt of fires that never seem to die.

They are on the front line of the hot spots. And it is a painful, impossible task. Not least of their problems: How to fight fires with no water? How to go on fighting when your lungs are on fire?

At Rokan Hilir, a 10-hour drive from the Riau capital of Pekanbaru, we saw a group of firefighters, their faces stained by soot, battling a fire in one of the more remote parts of the area. There are few accessible roads. In this remote, undeveloped area, they have difficulty finding water sources.

Fire hydrants? Haha. You've got to be kidding.

The air was thick with smoke but the sight of firefighters huddling through the bushes dragging water hoses attracted a horde of curious villagers, who didn't seem bothered by the dust particles in the air.

The flames were doused, but never completely tamed. Huge patches of scorched peatland were still smouldering, emitting heat and lots of smoke. Burning easily Made of decomposed plant material, peat burns easily, making it tough to extinguish.

THE NEW PAPER

"We have been fighting fires 24 hours a day for two weeks," Ahmad Saerozi, the head of the natural resources conservation agency in Riau province, where the fires are centred, told AFP. "We are overwhelmed and in a state of emergency," he said. He was referring to efforts by more than 160 firefighters in the Bengkalis district where the biggest fires are burning, mostly underground in peatland.

"Aircraft must drop water as soon as possible. We can't do this alone," he said.

Indonesia's national disaster agency said on Friday that two helicopters had been dispatched with cloud-seeding equipment to prompt rainfall, and it was hoped they could start operating later in the day.

Saerozi said the fires were mostly in peat that was three to four metres (10 to 13 feet) deep. "It is still burning under the surface so we have to stick a hose into the peat to douse the fire," he said. "We take one to two hours to clear a hectare, and by then another fire has started elsewhere. The sea breeze is also blowing the fires to other areas." Extra personnel from the conservation agency, the local government and palm oil plantation employees had been drafted in to help tackle the blazes, he said.

AFP

********************

JUNE 25, 2013

APOLOGY BY INDONESIA TO MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono apologized Monday to Singapore and Malaysia for record-setting pollution caused by forest fires in his country.

"For what is happening, as the president, I apologize to our brothers in Singapore and Malaysia," Yudhoyono said. He asked for their understanding and said Indonesia is working hard to fight the fires, which are often set by farmers to clear fields.

Jakarta dispatched planes and helicopters last week to battle the blazes in peat swamp forests as well as plantations in Riau province on Sumatra island, where the smoke easily drifts across the sea to the two neighboring countries.

Speaking at a news conference after a Cabinet meeting to discuss the issue, Yudhoyono said he has ordered an investigation of the fires.

"There should be a thorough investigation. In my analysis, there are both natural and human factors," he said, adding that the wind direction has caused the smoke to concentrate in Singapore and Malaysia.

Yudhoyono said at the moment, the areas affected by fires  in Jambi, Bengkulu, and Riau had been declared as districts  under disaster emergency and the central government had  deployed maximum manpower to fight the calamity.

He said Indonesia was fully responsible for overcoming the  problem and was confident that this would be done soon.

Yudhoyono pledged that Indonesia would put out every  spot of fire burning in Indonesian forests by carrying cloud  seeding apart from mobilising fire-fighting personnel on land  including from the armed forces.

Indonesian Water Bombing Efforts

At the news conference, the Indonesian President also  ticked off several government officials of the republic for  mentioning the names of plantation companies believed to  have started the fires which he said should not have been  divulged.

"From what I monitor daily, there were statements made  by some officials which according to me should not have been  delivered as such," he said.

He said the companies concerned involved had not been  determined and government officials should refrain from  issuing such statements.

"Even if the companies were negligent, it is not necessary  to name them. Or the fact that they are owned by our  neighbouring countries.

"What is more important now is to focus on overcoming the  fire disaster that has dragged on for a week," he said.

The wind is blowing the haze up north towards Malacca, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Perak and Penang and causing worsening air quality.

The Department of Environment (DOE) said that this north-blowing wind was variable while a southwesterly wind, which was carrying thick haze from Riau, continued to blow towards the middle and south of the west and the east coasts of the peninsula.

The DOE said the haze, which initially blanketed the southern peninsula, had moved towards the north.

“At the same time, the haze has reached the east coast states of Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan,” it said in a statement yesterday.

The DOE said this was according to the map released by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre on Sunday.

The DOE said that the centre also reported that the number of hotspots in Indonesia had increased from 118 on Saturday to 227 on Sunday.

Muar and Ledang districts in Johor  “haze emergency” was lifted yesterday after the Air Pollutant Index readings that surged over 700 in these areas on Sunday, dropped to 125 yesterday.

********** 

JUNE 24, 2013
HAZE CURFEW LIFTED

The Air Pollutant Index (API) readings in Muar in Johor had improved drastically since Sunday.

Muar natural disaster operations centre committee chairman Abdul Rahman Mohamed Dewam said the reading on Sunday at 8pm was 746 and it dropped to 121 at 2pm Monday June 24, 2013.

Visibility in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, remained poor on Monday as officials ordered schools closed in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor state.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for Indonesia's national disaster agency, said they had "carried out 14 water-bombings, dropping a total of 7,000 litres (1,820 gallons) of water onto the fires".

He added that altogether, four helicopters had been deployed for water-bombing operations while two planes were conducting cloud-seeding, AFP news agency reported.

However, Indonesian disaster agency official Agus Wibowo told AFP that two cloud-seeding attempts tried in Riau province over the weekend were not successful.

"The cloud-seeding technology is meant to speed up rainfall, but with few clouds, there's little we can do. The rain was more like a drizzle."

Indonesian authorities say close to 100 forest fires are still burning out of control, casting a thick pall of smog across hundreds of square kilometres

A man walks past a bushfire in Labersa, Riau province, Indonesia on Monday, June 24, 2013. Indonesian police on Monday arrested two farmers for illegally starting fires to clear land in Sumatra, the first detentions linked to blazes that have blanketed neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia with thick smog for days. -- PHOTO: AP

STATUS BACAAN INDEK PENCEMARAN UDARA (IPU) PADA 24-Jun-2013 SELURUH MALAYSIA

(Sumber : AIR POLLUTANT INDEX MANAGEMENT SYSTEM)

NEGERI / STATE	KAWASAN/AREA	MASA/TIME 7:00AM	MASA/TIME 11:00AM	MASA/TIME 5:00PM
Johor	Kota Tinggi	78*	74*	#
Johor	Larkin Lama	111*	107*	#
Johor	Muar	148*	132*	#
Johor	Pasir Gudang	83*	75*	#
Kedah	Alor Setar	63*	64*	#
Kedah	Bakar Arang, Sg. Petani	75*	77*	#
Kedah	Langkawi	58*	57*	#
Kelantan	SMK Tanjung Chat, Kota Bharu	108*	114*	#
Kelantan	Tanah Merah	90*	93*	#
Melaka	Bandaraya Melaka	182*	141*	#
Melaka	Bukit Rambai	260*	170*	#
Negeri Sembilan	Nilai	145*	149*	#
Negeri Sembilan	Port Dickson	335*	292*	#
Negeri Sembilan	Seremban	153*	169*	#
Pahang	Balok Baru, Kuantan	198*	191*	#
Pahang	Indera Mahkota, Kuantan	171*	166*	#
Pahang	Jerantut	106*	111*	#
Perak	Jalan Tasek, Ipoh	70*	73*	#
Perak	Kg. Air Putih, Taiping	63*	66*	#
Perak	S K Jalan Pegoh, Ipoh	79*	82*	#
Perak	Seri Manjung	141*	148*	#
Perak	Tanjung Malim	128*	137*	#
Perlis	Kangar	62*	63*	#
Pulau Pinang	Perai	72*	72*	#
Pulau Pinang	Seberang Jaya 2, Perai	79*	79*	#
Pulau Pinang	USM	70*	71*	#
Sabah	Keningau	78*	77*	#
Sabah	Kota Kinabalu	76*	75*	#
Sabah	Sandakan	50*	50*	#
Sabah	Tawau	39*	41*	#
Sarawak	Bintulu	75*	77*	#
Sarawak	ILP Miri	75*	76*	#
Sarawak	Kapit	63*	66*	#
Sarawak	Kuching	70*	72*	#
Sarawak	Limbang	72*	73*	#
Sarawak	Miri	81*	82*	#
Sarawak	Samarahan	74*	75*	#
Sarawak	Sarikei	85*	88*	#
Sarawak	Sibu	85*	102*	#
Sarawak	Sri Aman	64*	67*	#
Selangor	Banting	178*	180*	#
Selangor	Kuala Selangor	117*	128*	#
Selangor	Pelabuhan Kelang	296*	288*	#
Selangor	Petaling Jaya	198*	193*	#
Selangor	Shah Alam	157*	162*	#
Terengganu	Kemaman	249*	253*	#
Terengganu	Kuala Terengganu	95*	98*	#
Terengganu	Paka	159*	158*	#
Wilayah Persekutuan	Batu Muda,Kuala Lumpur	191*	198*	#
Wilayah Persekutuan	Cheras,Kuala Lumpur	157*	160*	#
Wilayah Persekutuan	Labuan	82*	80*	#
Wilayah Persekutuan	Putrajaya	155*	152*	#

Petunjuk / Legend

API	Status
0-50	Baik / Good
51-100	Sederhana / Moderate
101-200	Tidak Sihat / Unhealthy
201-300	Sangat Tidak Sihat / Very Unhealthy
>301	Berbahaya / Hazardous

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Note:

1. The hotspots depicted in the map are derived from the NOAA-18 satellite. Hotspots go undetected when the area is not covered in the satellite pass or under cloudy / overcast conditions.

2. The surface winds (depicted by arrows in the map) are valid for 0600 UTC on the date indicated in the map.The length of the arrow represents the relative wind speed - longer arrows correspond to stronger winds. Click here for corresponding 0630 UTC satellite picture.

3. This map is updated by 1000 UTC (6 pm SGT) daily.

As of Monday 5 pm June 24 , 2013  according to API readings, only Port Klang  has recorded more than 300.

The air quality remained at unhealthy levels in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Malacca and Negri Sembilan as at 7am Monday.According to the Department of Environment website, the Kuala Lumpur, the API at Putrajaya registered at 155, Cheras, 157, and Batu Muda, 191. In Selangor, Petaling Jaya registered 198, Shah Alam, 157, Port Klang, 296, and Banting, 178. Higher API readings were also registered in Port Dickson (335) in Negri Sembilan and Bukit Rambai (260) in Malacca.

CURFEW IN MUAR AND LEDANG

On Sunday Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak agreed to declare emergency status in Muar and Ledang with immediate effect after the API readings reached more than 750. The haze worsened in several parts of the country yesterday with the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading in Muar breaching the "hazardous" level at 578   at 10pm,   even as Indonesia pledged to contain its haze-generating fires.

The API also reached "unhealthy" levels in Kota Tinggi (189), Malacca city (188), Pasir Gudang (187), Bukit Rambai (170), Larkin Lama (167), Port Dickson (149), Port Klang (145), Seremban (108), Banting (107) and  Keningau, Sabah (101) as at 5pm Saturday

The worsening haze has caused visibility to drop below 1km in affected areas.

As of 10am on Sunday, in Mersing, visibility is only 300 meters, the lowest recorded by the Meteorological Department. In Batu Pahat visibility is at 600 metres and in Kluang and Malacca it is at only 500 and 800 metres respectively.The Department did not have data on visibility for Muar, at which the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading has reached a record high of 746, above the "hazardous" level. Meanwhile in the Klang Valley, visibility has dropped to 1km in Subang and Petaling Jaya. Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan also recorded poor visibility at only 1km.

Thick smog shrouding the city could last for weeks, as the smoke drove air quality "hazardous" levels and disrupted business and travel in the region.Air quality has deteriorated to "hazardous" levels in both Malaysia and Singapore over the past few days as smoke from forest fires in Indonesia obscured skies and disrupted businesses and travel. 

Tourism will be affected when potential tourist read about what is happening in this region. Hopefully they will realise this is not a permanent problem like in some cities but a temporary situation.

The elderly, pregnant women, children and those with heart and lung conditions are advised to remain indoors as the index hit an historic high. An index reading above 300 is defined as "hazardous" and is regarded as potentially life threatening to the ill and elderly. A PSI reading above 300 indicates "hazardous" air, while a reading between 201 and 300 means "very unhealthy".

The public should take precautions and seek medical treatment if they suffer from respiratory problems,  cough, fever, sore throat or sore eyes.They should drink lots of fluids.

The haze, caused by seasonal burn off in Sumatra, The illegal burning of forest on Indonesia's Sumatra island, to the west of Singapore and Malaysia, to clear land for palm oil plantations is a chronic problem, particularly during the June to September dry season.

This open burning phenomenon is not limited only in Indonesia's Sumatra. Open burning of agricultural lands and forests is also rampant in Indonesia's Kalimantan, creating thick smoke that reach northward to Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah

The Department of Environment in a statement said the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre satellite image showed 21 hot spots in Sumatra on Friday, a decrease from 64 hot spots on Thursday.

A senior presidential aide Kuntoro Mangkusubroto said Friday that the fires happened in concession areas belonging to Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) and Asia Pacific Resources International (APRIL).

APP, the world's third-largest paper producer said in a statement late Friday that "ground verification" detected "only seven points that are actually forest fire, affecting around 200 hectares of land".

"They are under and being controlled by approximately a thousand fire fighting crews and their team. Our team's preliminary investigation found that five of the fires were set by the community to clear land for crops and two cases are still under investigation", APP added.

APRIL could not be reached for comment.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, an official in Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency, said 10 aircraft were sent to Sumatra on Friday to help extinguish the fires. Three helicopters will lead a "water-bombing" effort to assist more than 100 firefighters on the ground, while planes will conduct "cloud-seeding" to try to chemically induce rain.

Meanwhile, Jakarta has pointed the finger at Malaysian and  Singaporean palm oil ventures which it says have caused the smog by clearing land to make way for plantations that provide the feedstock for city-state's refining industry.

The Indonesian Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuayahas identified eight companies with Malaysian links that are being investigated for burning in Riau and Jambi, that has led to the haze that is choking neighbouring countries Malaysia and Singapore.

According to Dr Balthasar, all eight companies are owned by Malaysian investors and fires were discovered on their concessions.

The eight companies concerned are PT Langgam Inti Hiberida, PT Bumi Rakksa Sejati, PT Tunggal Mitra Plantation, PT Udaya Loh Dinawi, PT Adei Plantation, PT Jatim Jaya Perkasa, PT Multi Gambut Industri and PT Mustika Agro Lestari.

PT Tunggal Mitra Plantation, a unit of Minamas Plantation, a subsidiary of Malaysia-based Sime Darby Plantations, one of the world’s largest listed oil palm plantations.Another is PT Adei Plantation, owned by Kepong Berhad.

"If there is enough evidence, we will take them to court. Our investigators are still on the ground for further investigation," he said on Saturday.

More companies are expected to be named as Dr Balthasar said another 14 companies were being investigated.
"The slash-and-burn technique being used is the cheapest land-clearing method and it is not only used by local farmers, but also employees of palm oil investors including Singaporean and Malaysian companies,'' Hadi Daryanto, a senior official at Indonesia's Forestry Ministry, told Indonesian media."We hope the governments of Malaysia and Singapore will tell their investors to adopt proper measures so we can solve this problem together.''

Three Singapore-based palm oil companies with land concessions in Indonesia, including Wilmar International Ltd, Golden Agri-Resources Ltd and First Resources Ltd, were quick to clarify that they had "zero burning" policies and used only mechanical means to clear land.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak offered  to help Indonesia with cloud-seeding services to tackle the haze, which has enveloped much of Malaysia and Singapore.

A joint Singapore- Indonesia -Malaysia Task Force should be set up to combat this matter as this problem seems to be happening every year during the same period for the last couple of years. Indonesia should stop pointing fingers and be humble in working with Malaysia and Singapore to solve this problem in the spirit of Asean solidarity.

Indonesia the biggest culprit must ratify the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. 

See http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/indonesia-must-ratify-haze-pact-1.305743

Source: NST, THESTAR, BBC, CNN, MOE,