Negeri Sembilan DOE ramps up enforcement as haze hits unhealthy levels

Seremban, September 16 — The Negeri Sembilan Department of Environment (DOE) is intensifying its ground-level monitoring, particularly focusing on open burning activities, as haze conditions deteriorate across several districts in the state. Director Abdul Aziz Parmin revealed that other contributing factors are being closely observed, such as factories, quarries, motor vehicles, development projects, land clearing, and any activities that may lead to dust emissions and air pollution.

"Our top priority right now is to strengthen ground-level monitoring, especially for open burning, while not overlooking other sources that could add to dust or haze emissions," Parmin informed Bernama. He emphasized that the department had sent letters to all local authorities (PBTs) and District and Land Offices (PDTs) across Negeri Sembilan, urging them to intensify enforcement against pollution sources.

According to him, air quality in numerous areas of Negeri Sembilan has reached unhealthy levels, with Nilai reporting an Air Pollutant Index (API) of 172, Seremban (168), and Port Dickson (155) at noon today. All haze-related actions will be reported to the National Haze Action Plan, while the state will keep the State Disaster Management Committee informed about the evolving situation.

Parmin mentioned that the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) would coordinate cloud seeding as needed based on current API readings and circumstances.