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

Selangor's local authorities have been instructed to intensify surveillance and enforce stricter penalties on open burning activities, as the state grapples with deteriorating air quality. State Public Health and Environment Committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin announced the directives following the activation of the National Haze Action Plan by the Department of Environment (DOE), with the Selangor State Executive Council's approval.

Violators of open burning could face fines up to RM1 million or imprisonment for up to five years, along with daily fines of up to RM5,000 for persistent offenses.

Jamaliah called upon the public to report any open burning incidents through the state DOE's hotline at 1-800-88-2727 or the DOE eAduan application. State Secretary Datuk Dr Ahmad Fadzli Ahmad Tajuddin is set to chair a State Disaster Management Committee meeting tomorrow to explore additional strategies to mitigate the impact of haze on the population.

In light of the deteriorating air quality, Jamaliah advised residents, particularly those with respiratory issues, to limit outdoor activities. Schools across the state have been notified of precautionary measures to safeguard students, with closures mandated if Air Pollutant Index (API) readings surpass 200. Currently, 17 locations across six states and two Federal Territories have reported unhealthy API readings, with five of those in Selangor exceeding 100.

These areas include Johan Setia (158), Shah Alam (158), Klang (151), Banting (144), and Petaling Jaya (123).