Eight Areas Register Unhealthy Air Quality

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 (Bernama) -- Eight areas namely Ipoh, Seri Manjung, Tanjung Malim, Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Selangor, Nilai and Seremban registered unhealthy air quality status Tuesday.
The Department of Environment (DOE) expects the haze to continue for several more days.
As of 11 am today, the KL International Airport (KLIA) registered visibility at one kilometre, but a spokesman of Malaysia Airports (Sepang) Sdn Bhd, when contacted, said the situation did not affect flight schedules.
Several areas like Sitiawan, Ipoh, Lubok Merbau, Temerloh and Kuala Terengganu registered visibility of between two and four kilometres while Petaling Jaya, Subang, Bandar Muadzam Shah and Kuching registered visibility of between six and seven kilometres.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Adenan Satem said the dry weather with intermittent rain in several areas on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia also did not help to reduce the haze.
"The air quality which continues to be unhealthy is caused by pollution which has crossed the border following the south-west Monsoon wind blowing from the hot spot areas in Sumatera to the west coast of peninsular Malaysia which was traced by the latest satellite images," he said.
Adenan, who was speaking to reporters after launching the Vehicle Exhaust Emission Control Campaign at the Pusat Pemeriksaan Kenderaan Berkomputer Sdn Bhd (Puspakom), here Tuesday, said if the situation deteriorated further, the government would take drastic action including giving holidays to school children and reducing working hours.
"I think it is fair to say if the situation worsens, it might be necessary to take drastic steps. I will be briefing the Cabinet on the situation tomorrow," he said.
Adenan said of the 50 air quality monitoring stations throughout the country, 36 areas registered moderate air quality while six registered good air quality status.
Following the latest development, several areas such as Selangor, the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya were declared as prohibited areas for open burning, except for cremations for religious purposes and barbecues, immediately until further notice.