Kuala Lumpur: Malaysians finally got a break from the haze after rains brought relief to a month of smoky conditions.
The easterly winds have also steadily improved the air quality during the past few days.
Yesterday, 45 areas registered a “good” air pollutant index (API) while four were “moderate”.
An API reading of between 0 and 50 denotes good while 51 to 100 is moderate, 101 to 200 is unhealthy, 201 to 300 is very unhealthy and above 300 is hazardous.
It rained heavily in many areas, washing away the pollutants caused by Indonesian forest fires.
The Meteorological Services Department weather forecast centre principle assistant director Wong Teck Kiong said the easterly winds kept the smoke from Indonesian fires away from Malaysia.
Visibility also improved in 28 of 35 areas, recording 10km of visibility and above.
Lecturer Rakesh Sarpal had a pleasant car journey yesterday from his hometown in Ipoh to Kuala Lumpur, where he works as a lecturer.
“The roads were very clear for driving. I think I can put away my mask,” said Rakesh, who rides a motorcycle to work.
Heavy rain in Shah Alam was welcomed by Syamil Afiz Mohd Fadzil, 18, who had had enough of the many days of haze.
During the hazy period, Shah Alam recorded API readings of around 100.
“I am happy. Rain is anytime better than haze,” said Syamil.
Scattered to widespread rain and thunderstorms are expected today in the west coast states of Peninsular Malaysia in the late afternoon and evening.
Sarawak is also expected to have thunderstorms in the west and central areas.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid, like many Malaysians, felt frustrated and helpless as the haze engulfed the country recently.
He said next month, an international forum in Jakarta organised by the Indonesian authorities would come up with ways to tackle the haze.
This will be followed by the annual consultancy meeting among Asean ministers in the Philippines which will see haze as the main agenda.
“We will move forward from there but we won’t see the results immediately. This is, again, meeting after meeting and nothing on the ground,” he said.
Source: The Expat October 2006
This article has been transferred from Expat KL
This artilce has been edited for ExpatGomalaysia.com
This article has been transferred from Expat KL
This artilce has been edited for ExpatGomalaysia.com
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