Haze risk persists as Johan Setia records unhealthy air quality

Authorities in Malaysia have warned that the haze risk remains as the country remains under the Southwest Monsoon until the end of September. Johan Setia, an official in Selangor, recorded an unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 157 at 8am on Tuesday, indicating poor air quality. This reading, part of an ongoing effort to monitor air quality across the nation, was one of 64 moderate API readings reported nationwide.

In contrast, Kedah, including cities like Alor Setar and Langkawi, and Perlis reported good air quality. The API scale ranges from zero to 50 for good air quality, 51 to 100 for moderate, 101 to 200 for unhealthy, 201 to 300 for very unhealthy, and above 300 as hazardous. The Malaysian Meteorological Department's director-general, Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Ani, explained that the Southwest Monsoon would continue until the end of September, posing a risk of haze recurrence if open burning is not managed effectively.

This warning follows recent improvements in haze conditions in the Klang Valley and Sarawak, attributed to recent wetter weather, but also highlights ongoing concerns about the potential for air quality deterioration due to dry conditions and uncontrolled open burning.