Smokey atmosphere lingers over Malaysia and Sumatra

BANGKOK- Despite some relief in the haze on Sunday, persisting fires in Sumatra’s palm tree plantations and nearby forests take their toll on both Malaysia and Sumatra island. While Singapore has been spared by thick smog today, the haze moved further north over the Malaysian Peninsula due to winds.

While Singapore’s air pollution index reached “very unhealthy” and “hazardous” levels last Friday, some areas near Kuala Lumpur reached today a similar level, forcing the government to declare a State of Emergency in Selangor, a state near to Kuala Lumpur, as pollution index reached 319 on Monday afternoon after reaching 330 in the State of Negeri Sembilan in the same morning. A pollution index of over 300 is considered dangerous for health. In the Southern State of Johor Bahru, levels of pollution reached catastrophic records with the index hiting 750, its highest for 16 years. Schools in Johor, Kuala Lumpur and other affected areas were closed today while the government advised people to stay indoors.

In Indonesia, the country’s disaster management agency recorded 154 hotspots on Sumatra Island on Monday, up from 92 last week. Aircrafts were sent over Sumatra for cloud seeding to generate artificial rain.

The number of hotspots in Riau province increased to 154 yesterday from 92 on June 22, according to the country’s disaster management agency. The government already declared on Friday a state of emergency for the province haze worsened from forest fires in three regencies and municipalities.

In an effort to crack down on those responsible for forest fires sweeping through parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan, Indonesian newspapers reported that the police arrested a former Bank official and two farmers in Riau. They are all officially accused of illegally burning large swaths of his land properties.

The Indonesian government also pointed its finger to large palm oil producing companies from Malaysia and Singapore, which are deemed to have set fire to clear land for further palm trees plantations. The haze crisis generates tensions between Singapore; Malaysia and Indonesia. Malaysia is offering to host a meeting of the sub-regional ministerial steering committee on trans-boundary haze in Kuala Lumpur next week with the support of Singapore. Thailand and Brunei would also join the meeting.

Air traffic has also been affected sporadically with airports in Palembang, Pekanbaru and Batam closed for a few hours while some flights faced delay in Kuala Lumpur as well as in Kuantan in Malaysia. If the haze further persists, Malaysia might postpone three international-level sports events according to the Malaysian newspaper the Star which cited Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Ministry.

Sourced: TravelDailyNews