DOE records 1,418 enforcement, monitoring actions amid haze
KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Environment (DOE) carried out 1,418 enforcement and monitoring actions nationwide during the haze period from Aug 3 to Sept 13.
The Department of Environment (DOE) conducted 1,418 enforcement and monitoring actions across Malaysia during the haze period from August 3 to September 13, according to Deputy Director-General Azuri Azizah Saedon. These actions encompassed 978 monitoring activities, 83 field directives, 31 instruction notices, 305 cases forwarded to other agencies, 11 offers of compensation, and 10 land title searches to aid investigations and court proceedings.
The DOE is actively targeting open burning and pollution sources that could exacerbate air quality during haze events, according to Saedon.
The organization's efforts are bolstered by inspections and patrols in high-risk areas such as agricultural land, peatlands, plantations, landfill sites, and sites prone to open burning. Any infractions discovered during these inspections will lead to further action based on the collected evidence.
Air Pollutant Index (API) readings on September 13 revealed unhealthy air quality in 37 areas, with the highest reading of 184 recorded in Johan Setia, Selangor. Other areas with elevated readings included Cheras in Kuala Lumpur (175), Nilai in Negri Sembilan (172), Putrajaya and Shah Alam (both at 171). This deterioration in air quality is attributed to persistent dry weather in the southern ASEAN region.
As of September 13, 240 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan, 355 in Sumatra, and one in Malaysia (Sabah), according to the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC). The ASMC also reported moderate to dense transboundary haze over Kalimantan, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and portions of southern Vietnam and Cambodia.
The DOE is particularly vigilant about fires in Sarawak, especially those involving peatlands and landfill sites, due to the heightened risk posed by hot, dry conditions. In Sarawak, the Selalang Landfill fire affected a 1.5-hectare area, with 87 percent (1.3 hectares) successfully extinguished as of September 13. The firefighting operation continues on the remaining 0.2 hectares.
The Sarawak DOE will maintain monitoring of the fire site, utilizing drones to gather real-time updates on the fire's status and the extent of the affected area.
The DOE will continue monitoring API readings, hotspots, and transboundary haze developments, employing meteorological data to evaluate the situation and coordinate haze management efforts at various levels, including district, state, and national. Coordinated measures are being implemented under the National Haze Action Plan, which includes activating the Disaster Management Committee if the API reading exceeds 150 for over 24 hours.
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