PETALING JAYA: Peat fires, hot spots and open burning are contributing to the haze currently affecting Malaysia.
Natural resources, environment and climate change minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the heat wave in Peninsular Malaysia and the reopening of economic activities after Covid-19 were also contributory factors.
“Hot weather has caused fires to occur in forests and landed properties.
“The haze is not only affecting Malaysia but other countries in the Asean region, too,” Bernama reported him as saying at a press conference in Kampung Parit Pasir Tumboh, Kota Bharu, Kelantan.
Nik Nazmi said the fire department had been busy fighting peat fires in Kampung Beoh in Bachok, Kelantan, since March 27.
The fire initially affected a 5ha spot but has spread to around 20-50ha, Nik Nazmi said, adding that the area was still smoky and the fires had not been put out completely.
The Kelantan fire and rescue department has advised the public to refrain from conducting open burning, especially in flammable areas, during the current hot and dry weather.
Its director, Zainal Madasin, said this was because open burning would reduce the level of air quality and have negative effects on human health.
Two areas recorded unhealthy air quality readings yesterday, namely in Segamat, Johor, and Tanah Merah, Kelantan, according to the environment department.
Environment director-general Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar said the Air Pollutant Index (API) recorded in Segamat was 139 while in Tanah Merah it was 109 as of 2pm yesterday.
On Wednesday, Seremban saw unhealthy air quality because of a slight haze. The API showed an unhealthy level of 103 in Seremban at 6am. It rose to 111 by 8am and was 118 at 10am.
A day earlier, Cheras in Kuala Lumpur also experienced unhealthy air quality with an API level of 119 at 4pm. It dropped to 108 at 9pm and below 100 at 10pm. - FMT
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