The Environment Department (DoE) has been instructed by Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, the Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, to enhance enforcement and conduct daily patrols in areas at risk of open burning, according to a news report. The move was prompted by a recent forest fire incident in Kota Tinggi, which has already been partially extinguished. The minister advised landowners to closely monitor areas that are prone to frequent fires. He mentioned that the haze issue in the country was discussed in a cabinet meeting, and he has requested the Education Ministry and Health Ministry to suspend outdoor activities due to deteriorating air quality. These actions are part of the National Haze Action Plan (PTJK) which aims to ensure swift response to air quality issues.
Under PTJK, the Disaster Management Committee, coordinated by the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), will be activated when the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading exceeds 150 for more than 24 hours. Outdoor activities will be halted when the API reading exceeds 100, and schools, kindergartens, and nurseries will be closed if the API reading exceeds 200. In addition, cloud seeding operations may be conducted if necessary. As of Thursday afternoon, Klang recorded an unhealthy API reading of 153. Although only Klang currently has an unhealthy API reading, several areas in Peninsular Malaysia have frequently experienced poor air quality throughout the week due to the movement of haze.
The Regional Haze Map released by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) on October 18 indicated that the wind movement in the southern part of Asean is currently from east to southeast. However, in the following days, the southern part of Asean is expected to receive more rainfall, which will reduce hotspots and haze. To address the haze issue, Malaysia has established a bilateral agreement with Indonesia for joint efforts in haze prevention under the framework of the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. The ministry will also assess the feasibility of enacting a Transboundary Haze Bill to address the haze crisis.
In response to the haze crisis, the public is encouraged to be cautious and mindful of air quality levels in their respective areas. It is advised to take preventive measures to minimize the health impacts of haze, including avoiding outdoor physical activities to reduce exposure to unhealthy air. Offenders involved in open burning can face fines of up to RM500,000 or imprisonment for a maximum of five years under Section 29(A) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974. Each offense may also be subject to a maximum compound fine of RM2,000, as reported by Bernama News Agency.
