Open fires cause of unhealthy air quality, says minister

Open fires cause of unhealthy air quality, says minister

Seven areas in the Klang Valley, Selangor and Pahang record unhealthy API readings.

A fire in a 20ha area in Muar, Johor, which has been burning since Feb 27. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR:
Open fires during the current hot and dry weather conditions have been identified as the cause of unhealthy air quality in some areas in the country, said environment and water minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

He said seven stations recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 4pm yesterday – Johan Setia Klang (188), Banting (167), Petaling Jaya (133), Klang (107), Shah Alam (104), Cheras (111) and Rompin, Pahang (133).

“The slight haze in the Klang Valley today is due to the forest and peat fires in the Kuala Langat Selatan Forest Reserve involving an area of 34ha since Feb 24,” he said in a statement last night.

Open fires from five agricultural locations in Johan Setia, Klang, detected on Feb 5, caused the unhealthy API reading in the area, he said.

The Department of Environment (DOE) also detected bush fires in a 10ha area in Rompin yesterday.

Tuan Ibrahim said the DOE had prepared six investigation papers, issued one compound and served four notices to those responsible.

“Strict action has been taken against landowners, landfill operators and perpetrators who cause open burning that affects air quality,” he said.

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