Girding for return of the haze

 

The Asean haze centre has reported that a few hotspots were detected in Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia and western Borneo. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Preparations are being made for the possibility of the recurrence of haze arising from the current hot weather in Peninsular Malaysia, says the environment ministry.

Among the measures being taken by the government are monitoring the vulnerable areas such as peatland, inflammable areas and other sites often prone to open burning, said Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who is minister for natural resources, environment and climate change.

“There is a possibility of (haze occurrence) and we (the ministry) will hold a meeting on this issue soon,” he said, according to Bernama.

“Actually, we already have a system in place, but in the past two or three years due to Covid-19 there were less problems and industrial activities were also reduced, but now things have returned to normal so we are ready to face the phenomenon.”

Nik Nazmi said the ministry was also making preparations to meet possible water supply shortages because of less rainfall.

Peninsular Malaysia was reported to be undergoing a heat wave yesterday. The director-general of the meteorological department, Muhammad Helmi Abdullah, said the maximum daily temperature of 37 degrees Celsius was recorded in the northern states of the Peninsula and the interiors of Kelantan and Pahang.

However he said this would not last for long as rain is expected in most places in the next few days.

Haze hotspots (in red and orange) are shown in this map by the Asean haze centre. Most affected are areas in northern Laos, with moderate to dense smoke haze in eastern Myanmar and northern Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Blue arrows indicate prevailing winds. (ASMC pic)

Haze centre reports highest alert level

The Asean haze centre said the overall hotspot activity remained low in the central region, with a few hotspots detected mostly in Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia and the western parts of Borneo.

However, it has posed its highest alert for the Mekong sub-region, indicating a high risk of severe transboundary haze in the region.

Alert Level 3 is raised when there are significant and persistent hotspot activities with widespread moderate to dense smoke haze observed over two or more consecutive days; dry weather; and prevailing winds blowing smoke haze from the hotspots towards neighbouring Asean countries.

The centre’s latest weather and haze report said widespread hotspots were detected in northern Laos with moderate to dense transboundary smoke haze in eastern Myanmar and northern Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

Localised moderate smoke plumes were also observed to emit from hotspots in central Thailand.

Air quality in the northern parts of the sub-region were reported to be at the “very unhealthy” level. - FMT