{News} 080805 Hazy days to continue

Hazy days to continue

The Star, 5 Aug 2008
By FLORENCE A. SAMY & LOH FOON FONG
KUALA LUMPUR: The haze is expected to continue a little longer as the number of hotspots in Sumatra is still hovering around the 150 mark and with little forecast of rain here.
In Sumatra, the number of hotspots had increased from 141 to 151 on Tuesday, but still much lower than the 285 on Sunday. In Borneo, the number of hotspots jumped to 253 yesterday from 43 on Monday.


Satellite pictures showed no hotspots in the peninsula on Tuesday, compared with two on Monday.


The Meteorological Services Department's (MSD) warning of low visibility – less than 5km – over northern Straits of Malacca waters still holds until Thursday.


The number of areas with moderate Air Pollutant Index (API) readings increased from 31 on Monday to 34 at 5pm Tuesday. Tanjung Malaim, which recorded unhealthy readings on Monday, had improved to a moderate 64.


Healthy API readings are between 0 and 50, and moderate from 51 to 100. Most moderate readings on Ruesday were between 51 and 70 except for Port Klang (78), Seberang Jaya 2 (87) and Kg Air Putih in Taiping, Perak, (76).


According to an MSD officer, there would be some rain in Kelantan, Perak and Pahang.
"The dry weather is expected to continue over the next few days, though the Klang Valley can except intermittent showers," he said.


Transboundary helpMeanwhile, Natural Resources and Environment Ministry secretary-general Datuk Suboh Mohd Yassin said Malaysia was working closely with Indonesia and Singapore to tackle the haze but added that the public also needed to play their part.


"Smokers sometimes throw cigarette butts indiscriminately and this can cause a fire. People should also be responsible and not resort to open burning," he said at a function on Tuesday.
At a separate function, Science, Technology and Innovations Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said the MSD was ready to implement cloud seeding to tackle the haze if needed.
Parts of the Elite Highway in SEPANG, was still shrouded in smog resulting from the 40ha peat fire that began on Sunday near the KL International Airport (KLIA).


Sepang Kuala Langat fire chief Supt Sharikan Bustaman said 132 fire fighters from 13 fire stations are fighting the fire, together with 18 staff members from the Kuala Langat and Selangor Forestry Department and six from the Sepang and Kuala Langat Drainage and Irrigation Department.
KLIA general manager Daud Hosnan said the sky over the airport was clear.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/8/5/nation/20080805204052&sec=nation

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