Sarawak haze: Three stations record ‘Very Unhealthy’ API, 12 at ‘Unhealthy’ level

KUCHING (Sept 24): Three of Sarawak’s 21 air quality monitoring stations continued to record ‘Very Unhealthy’ readings at 1pm on Thursday, while another 12 remained at the ‘Unhealthy’ level, according to the Natural Resources and Environment Board’s (NREB) API Status for Sarawak.

Lundu, Kanowit and Serian continued to record ‘Very Unhealthy’ air quality, with Lundu posting the highest reading at 219 at 1pm, down from 223 at 8am. Kanowit remained unchanged at 216, while Serian fell from 218 to 210.

Among the 12 stations recording ‘Unhealthy’ air quality, Lubok Antu rose from 191 to 198, while Kuching eased slightly from 195 to 193. Tebedu remained unchanged at 194, while Samarahan fell from 188 to 185.

The other ‘Unhealthy’ readings were Belaga at 173, Betong 172, Sri Aman 170, Bintulu 166, Sibu and Samalaju (158 each), Sarikei 157 and Kapit 121.

Meanwhile, six stations recorded ‘Moderate’ air quality, with Mukah and Miri moving out of the ‘Unhealthy’ category.

Mukah’s API dropped from 151 at 8am to 99 at 1pm, while Miri fell from 114 to 94.

The other ‘Moderate’ readings were Limbang at 86, ILP Miri 85, Lawas 81, and Bario 70.

Under the API classification, readings of 0-50 are Good, 51-100 Moderate, 101-200 Unhealthy, and 201-300 Very Unhealthy.

Department of Environment (DOE) deputy director-general (development) Azuri Azizah Saedon said the haze situation was occurring amid persistent dry weather in parts of the southern Asean region.

In a statement today, she cited the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre’s (ASMC) Sept 23 report, which recorded 792 hotspots in Kalimantan and 75 in Sumatra. No hotspots were detected in Malaysia, including Sarawak.

Azuri said ASMC had also reported moderate transboundary smoke haze over northwestern Borneo, with moderate to thick smoke plumes observed from clusters of hotspots in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra.

She added that the DOE would continue monitoring fire risks, particularly in peatland areas and landfill sites, while strengthening inspections and patrols in areas vulnerable to open burning.

“The DOE will not compromise on any open burning found to have resulted from human activities, particularly where such activities contribute to deteriorating air quality,” she said.

Azuri also reminded the public that open burning offences under the Environmental Quality (Amendment) Act 2024 could carry fines ranging from RM25,000 to RM1 million, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

The public is urged to refrain from open burning and report any fire or open burning incident to the Fire and Rescue Department through 999 or the DOE’s toll-free line at 1-800-88-2727.