Haze: Selangor local authorities told to step up monitoring, crack down on open burning

SHAH ALAM, Aug 26 — Selangor's local authorities are being urged to intensify surveillance and crack down on open burning to address unhealthy air quality reported in multiple regions of the state. State Public Health and Environment Committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin announced the directive after the Department of Environment (DOE) activated the National Haze Action Plan, approved by the Selangor State Executive Council (MMKN).

Violators of open burning under Section 29(A) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 could face fines up to RM1 million or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, with an additional RM5,000 fine per day for persistent offenses post a warning. The public is encouraged to report such activities via the Selangor DOE hotline (1-800-88-2727) or the DOE eAduan application.

State Secretary Datuk Dr Ahmad Fadzli Ahmad Tajuddin will chair a State Disaster Management Committee meeting tomorrow to devise additional measures to mitigate the haze's impact. Jamaliah advises residents to limit outdoor activities, especially those with respiratory conditions, and notes that schools statewide have received guidelines to protect students when Air Pollutant Index (API) readings exceed 100.

Schools, kindergartens, and childcare centers must close if API readings surpass 200. As of 8am today, 17 areas across six states and two Federal Territories reported unhealthy API readings. In Selangor, five locations—Johan Setia (158), Shah Alam (158), Klang (151), Banting (144), and Petaling Jaya (123)—exceeded the 100 mark.