1,211 titik panas di selatan Asean, asap rentas sempadan masuk Sarawak, kata JAS

On Tuesday, the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) reported 1,211 hotspots in the southern region of Asean, including 1,180 in Kalimantan, 18 in Sumatera, and 13 in Malaysia, with most of them located in Sarawak. Azuri Azizah Saedon, Assistant Director-General (Development) of the Department of Environment, stated that the hotspots range from simple to thick smoke and have moved northward, entering Sarawak's western region.

The simple to thick smoke is also observed in most of Kalimantan, central Sarawak, and central and southern Sumatera. The Department of Environment has noted unhealthy to hazardous air quality readings at several air quality monitoring stations in West Kalimantan, West and Central Sarawak, southwestern Malaysia, and central and southern Sumatera.

However, the overall hotspots and haze situation in the region cannot be determined solely due to forest fires. The ASEAN Secretariat has activated Alert Level 3 for the region since August 27, in line with Asean Major Operator Standard Operating Procedures. The Department of Environment, through the National Haze Action Plan (PTJK), continues to monitor air quality, hotspots, weather conditions, and haze developments to coordinate actions among relevant ministries and agencies.

In Sarawak, the Department continues to conduct patrols and prevent open burning, while increasing monitoring in areas prone to open burning, including forests, peatland, waste dumps, agricultural and plantation areas, and industrial zones. According to the PTJK, all indoor activities should be suspended if the Air Pollution Index (API) exceeds 100, while schools, kindergartens, and childcare centers should be closed if the API exceeds 200.

Schools, kindergartens, and childcare centers should also regularly monitor API levels and prepare for increasing levels towards 200. The public is advised not to conduct open burning and report any instances to the Fire and Rescue Department via 999 or the Department of Environment at 1-800-88-2727.