Haze: Two Hotspots Detected in Selangor, DOE Activates National Haze Action Plan

SHAH ALAM: The Department of Environment (DOE) has detected two hotspots in Selangor as air quality in several areas of the country begins to be affected following the movement of cross‑border haze smoke.

Based on a DOE statement today, satellite imagery from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on 7 August recorded 25 hotspots in Malaysia, involving 22 in Sarawak, two in Selangor and one in Terengganu.

At the same time, 643 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan and another 17 in Sumatra, which have been identified as among the sources of haze smoke movement into the region.

As of 8 am today, the DOE informed that three areas recorded good air quality, 60 areas recorded moderate levels, and five areas were at unhealthy levels, all in Sarawak.

The five areas are IPD Serian (API 171), Kuching (154), Samarahan (154), Sri Aman (139) and Bintulu (124).

“The DOE has stepped up enforcement activities and daily patrols in areas with potential for open burning.

“The National Open Burning Action Plan and the National Haze Action Plan (PTJK) have been activated to coordinate actions by all related agencies,” according to the DOE.

Under the PTJK, several measures will be implemented should the API reading continue to rise, among them:

• The Disaster Management Committee will be activated if the API exceeds 150 for more than 24 hours.

• All outdoor classroom activities will be stopped when the API exceeds 100.

• Schools, kindergartens and nurseries will be closed if the API exceeds 200.

• Cloud Seeding Operations (OPA) will be considered when the API exceeds 150 for more than 24 hours, subject to weather conditions.

The DOE also advised landowners to monitor areas that are prone to fires, such as forests, peatlands, landfills, plantations and industrial areas, and to avoid any open burning.

The public is also encouraged to monitor API readings via the website and the MyJAS EQMS application, as well as to obtain health advice from the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH).

Under the Environmental Quality (Amendment) Act 2024, individuals who carry out open burning can be fined a minimum of RM25,000 up to a maximum of RM1 million, or imprisoned for up to five years, or both.

Media Selangor