TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Haze back in some parts of Malaysia
Haze problem: Students are forced to wear masks as they cycle to school in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, on On Feb
Change Size
Haze problem: Students are forced to wear masks as they cycle to school in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, on On Feb. 6, 2014. Pontianak and its surrounding areas were blanketed by thick haze, which prompted the mayor to close local kindergartens and elementary schools. (JP/Severianus Endi) (JP/Severianus Endi)
H
span class="inline inline-center">Haze problem: Students are forced to wear masks as they cycle to school in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, on On Feb. 6, 2014. Pontianak and its surrounding areas were blanketed by thick haze, which prompted the mayor to close local kindergartens and elementary schools. (JP/Severianus Endi)
The air quality has worÂsened slightly in some places in Malaysia.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister G. Palanivel said that places like the Klang Valley and Nilai had moderate air quality due to small fires at local levels during the hot and dry weather.
As of 11am yesterday, the Air Pollution Index (API) of 15 areas recorded good air quality while another 31 areas had moderate air quality, he said in a statement.
'None of the areas recorded unhealthy air quality,' he said.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department said the hazy conditions might worsen in the next two months, if the dry season continued.
'Recent observations show that Malaysia might encounter moderate transboundary haze if the heatwave continues.
Transboundary haze is the movement of haze from one country to another, explains Dr Hisham Mohd Anip, a senior meteorologist from the department's National Weather Centre.
He said there might be an increase in haze in Malaysia and neighbouring countries, even as far as north Australia, if the dry season progressed.
'Haze is normal in the month of June to August in Malaysia because we are in the southwest monsoon season, which is consiÂdered a dry season,' he said.
Observations by the Meteorological Department also indicate that current temperatures are equivalent to a weaker version of the El Nino phenomenon.
'The intensity of this El Nino effect is predicted to increase from weak to moderate so the haze might worsen,' he added. (hhr)
