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
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.
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?
.jpg)
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
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.
 |
| 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?
.jpg)
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.
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 |
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| 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.
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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.
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.
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.
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".
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"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.
More companies are expected to be named as Dr Balthasar said another 14 companies were being investigated.
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."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,
