4 kawasan di Sarawak catat IPU sangat tidak sihat setakat 3 petang

Four regions in Sarawak have recorded the Air Quality Index (IPU) as severely unhealthy, according to data released by 3 p.m., with Kuching setting the highest reading at 261. Azuri Azizah Saedon, Assistant Director (Development) of the Environment Department (JAS), revealed that three other regions recorded severely unhealthy IPU readings: IPD Serian (254), Sri Aman (234), and Samarahan (231).

In total, 23 regions in Sarawak have reported IPU as unhealthy, including Tasek Ipoh (Perak) with 159, Pegoh Ipoh (151), Seri Manjung (156), and Tanjung Malim (156) in Kuala Lumpur; Kuala Selangor (124), Petaling Jaya (154), Shah Alam (163), Klang (155), Johan Setia (165), and Banting (159) in Selangor; Nilai (159) and Seremban (153) in Selangor; Alor Gajah and Bukit Rambai in Negeri Sembilan with readings of 146 and 107, respectively.

Regions in Melaka, namely Alor Gajah and Bukit Rambai, have IPU readings of 146 and 107, respectively. Other regions in Sarawak and Putrajaya also recorded unhealthy IPU levels: Miri (173), Miri (164), Samalaju (179), Bintulu (168), Mukah (185), and Sarikei (185) in Sarawak; and Putrajaya (156). Azuri Azizah noted that, according to the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) report on September 7, a total of 109 heatwaves were detected in Kalimantan, 119 in Sumatera, and five in Malaysia, comprising four in Pahang and one in Terengganu.

"ASMC also reported the presence of simple smoke plumes up to moderate thickness, which extends to the southwest coast of Borneo," she added. "Simple smoke plumes of various thicknesses were also observed due to groups of heatwave spots detected in many regions of Kalimantan, eastern Java, and central and southern Sumatera. Simple smoke plumes were also seen in the western coast of Malaysia.

JAS will continue to monitor air quality through the National Smoke Pollution Action Plan (PTJK) as the situation evolves."