Haze is back on the west coast

I thought someone was having a barbecue party this afternoon when the pungent smell of smoke was in the air. The haze is back in Malaysia on the west coast of the peninsula. 46 hot spots were spotted in Sumatra via satellite, according to the Department of Environment (DOE).

Images from the Asean Specialised Metrological Centre yesterday found that the Air Pollutant Index (API) levels were unhealthy in Malacca City (101), Muar (103) and Pasir Gudang, (127), the latter in Johore, south of the peninsula.

Muar is one of the reported six areas with unhealthy air quality with air pollutant reading of more than 100. The six are Port Klang (104), Malacca (129), Linggi (117), Sungai Udang (120), Muar (125) and Kijal (101), with the rest of the Peninsula showing good and moderate levels.

The Department of Environment lists API reading of 0 to 50 as good, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy and above 300 hazardous.

Apartment blocks in Tanjung Agas can hardly be seen from the Muar second bridge

In Muar, fishing trawlers have been advised to navigate with care along the Straits of Malacca and the Muar estuary due to thick haze. It has been reported that the haze has enveloped the district over the past four days, but it worsened yesterday with visibility dropping to below one nautical mile (1.8km). All ship captains plying the Straits have also been advised to be alert when passing fishing trawlers.

Read about: A weekend visit to Muar town - Part 1 and A weekend visit to Muar town - Part 2

Muar is a fishing town about a 30-minute drive south of Malacca. Muar is not linked by rail but the planned high-speed rail from KL to Singapore has included Muar as one of the stops. This will make Muar more accessible when the system is ready in ten years time.

Malacca shrouded in haze

Malacca Dragon Boar competition

In a haze environment, people, especially those with asthma and breathing problems, are advised to stay indoors and drink plenty of water.


Source: The Star.. API readings at 5pm show no let up in haze