KOTA KINABALU: The air quality in Sabah amidst the prevailing haze was yesterday reported to be moderate with the Air Pollutant Index (API) in the city and major towns below the unhealthy range, but the situation is expected to worsen.
The API readings provided by the Department of Environment (DOE) as at 11am yesterday showed Kota Kinabalu as worst hit area at 74, followed by Keningau 66 and Sandakan 42.
The Air Pollutant Index classifies readings from 0 to 50 as good, 51 to 100 as moderate, 101 to 200 as unhealthy, 201 to 300 as very unhealthy and readings of 301 and above as dangerous
The DoE yesterday reported that Muar in Johor was worst affected by the haze, with the API reading at 383 at 11am, up from 337 at 7am.
Kota Tinggi had an API reading of 232; Pasir Gudang, 199; and Larkin Lama, 181, it said on its website, www.doe.gov.my.
In Melaka, the City of Melaka and Bukit Rambai recorded API levels of 137 and 119, respectively. .
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Sabah DOE said that while it was still safe for the public to carry on their daily outdoor activities as usual, the department is on standby should the situation deteriorate, particularly if the API readings reach 100.
He said the department is no longer entertaining any applications for open burning, while reminding the public, including local farmers, to minimize any open burning.
“The major cause of the haze is of course the open burning season in Indonesia, particularly Sumatra and Kalimantan.
“However, similar activities here will aggravate the situation, hence we ask for cooperation from the public to minimize such activity,” he said.
“We ask that the Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) of every kampong to be the eyes and ears of our department, and help monitor the situation by reporting any open burning activities to DOE,” he said.
The spokesman said awareness programmes have been carried out in two places, namely Beaufort and Kuala Penyu, which are considered to be ‘hot spots’ due to the nature of the peat soil there.
He said the department would set up a committee consisting of various agencies and bodies to control the situation should it worsen.