Onn Hafiz calls Asean meeting as Johor records 53rd day of haze
JOHOR BARU: Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has called for an emergency Asean meeting and stronger regional cooperation to tackle transboundary haze, as the state recorded its 53rd day of haze since Aug 25.
Johor's Menteri Besar, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, has urged an urgent Asean meeting and enhanced regional collaboration to address transboundary haze, as the state endured its 53rd consecutive day of smoke and haze since August 25th. To prevent future haze occurrences, he emphasized the need for improved fire prevention measures, better hotspot monitoring, and improved firefighting responses.
The issue was brought up during a state-level disaster coordination assembly, during which Onn Hafiz cautioned that the prolonged haze poses significant risks to public health and everyday life. According to data from the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre, there were 453 hotspots in Indonesia's Kalimantan and 153 in Sumatra, highlighting worries about fires and smoke crossing national boundaries.
Pasir Gudang reported an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 198, nearing the "very unhealthy" level of 201, followed by Larkin (196), Pengerang (180), Kota Tinggi (171), Batu Pahat (170), Kluang (164), Tangkak (159), and Segamat (155). All eight Johor monitoring stations logged unhealthy air quality, with PM2.5 identified as the primary pollutant.
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