Photo credit: The Malaysian Insider
The haze crisis in Malaysia and its neighbour, Singapore, has significantly gotten worse, encouraging the Natural Resources and Environment Minister to meet his Indonesian counterpart on June 26. They plan to discuss measures on handling the hazy conditions affecting the region.
Malaysian cities in the south bore the brunt of the haze pollution, with places like Muar and Pasir Gudang in Johor recording an extremely high Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 383 and 333 yesterday respectively.
The states of Malacca and Negeri Sembilan are similarly experiencing ‘very unhealthy’ API levels, showing a respective reading of 192 and 157 as of 7am this morning, according to the Department of Environment’s website.
API readings of 0-50 indicate good conditions, followed by moderate (51-100), unhealthy (101-200), very unhealthy (201-300), and hazardous (300+).
The dangerous levels of haze has left only 13% of the country with good air to breathe, leading to the activation of the National Haze Action Plan nationwide, according to a recent report by The Star.
This in turn has led to the closing of 200 or more schools in areas where the API has reached 300 or more, for fear of the safety of Malaysia’s youth. This decision is in conjunction with reports from schools after many students have reported breathing difficulties.
State governments in both Johor and Malacca have issued reminders for the general public to limit their outdoor activities and seek immediate treatment if suffering with respiratory difficulties.
State Health and Sports Department Development executive council in Malacca have noticed a sudden influx of patients seeking medical attention due to haze related illnesses in hospitals and clinics, with an increase of 2,781 patients since Monday.
Malaysia has also offered a helping hand in aiding Indonesia on the haze situation, willing to send its fire fighters to Sumatera to help with subduing fires there. That being said, Indonesian authorities have not requested any aid so far.
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