Schools, kindergartens and nurseries across the country are required to suspend outdoor activities once Air Pollutant Index (API) readings exceed 100 under the National Haze Action Plan (PTJK).
Department of Environment (DOE) deputy director-general (Development) Azuri Azizah Saedon said educational institutions must also be prepared to close immediately if API readings rise above 200.
She said schools, kindergartens and nurseries should continuously monitor API readings, particularly when the readings show an upward trend towards the 200 mark, so preparations can be made for closure if necessary.
Under the PTJK, the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) will activate disaster management committees at district, state and federal levels if API readings remain above 150 for more than 24 hours.
Cloud-seeding operations may also be conducted under the same conditions, although their implementation will depend on the availability of suitable clouds and prevailing weather conditions.
Azuri said the DOE and relevant ministries and agencies would continue taking faster and more responsive measures in line with the haze action plan. The National Open Burning Action Plan has also been activated to coordinate government efforts in tackling open burning and haze.
She added that enforcement operations and daily patrols had been stepped up in areas considered vulnerable to open burning, while API readings continue to be monitored.
The measures come as five areas in Sarawak recorded unhealthy API readings at 8am today. Serian recorded the highest reading at 171, followed by Kuching and Samarahan at 154 each, Sri Aman at 139 and Bintulu at 124.
Nationwide, three areas recorded good air quality, while 60 registered moderate readings and five were classified as unhealthy. Azuri said overall air quality had deteriorated, particularly in Sarawak, due to haze smoke moving from different directions.
Based on the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) report dated Aug 7, a total of 643 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan, with another 17 in Sumatra and 25 in Malaysia. Of the Malaysian hotspots, 22 were located in Sarawak, two in Selangor and one in Terengganu.
The ASMC regional haze map showed that dry weather continued across much of southern Asean, although isolated rainfall was recorded over northern Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia. Hotspots remained widespread in West Kalimantan, while isolated to scattered hotspots were detected in other parts of Kalimantan, Sarawak, Peninsular Malaysia, southern and central Sumatra and eastern Java.
Moderate to dense smoke plumes were also detected over West Kalimantan and moving northwards towards western Sarawak. Similar smoke plumes were observed in other parts of Kalimantan and central Sarawak.
Azuri urged landowners to closely monitor fire-prone locations, including landfill sites, forests, peatlands, plantations, agricultural areas and industrial premises. They were also advised to take preventive measures to stop unauthorised entry that could lead to open burning.
She reminded the public that those convicted of open burning under the Environmental Quality (Amendment) Act 2024 face a fine of between RM25,000 and RM1 million, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.
Members of the public can monitor hourly API readings through the DOE’s Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) or the official MyJAS EQMS smartphone application.
Reports involving open burning or fires can be made to the Fire and Rescue Department at 999 or the DOE’s toll-free line at 1-800-88-2727.
