KUCHING (Sept 24): Three air quality monitoring stations in Sarawak recorded “Very Unhealthy” Air Pollutant Index (API) readings at 5pm today, with Lubok Antu entering the category while Serian improved to the “Unhealthy” level.

According to the Natural Resources and Environment Board’s (NREB) API Status for Sarawak, Kanowit recorded the highest reading at 216, unchanged from 1pm, followed by Lundu at 209, down from 219.

Lubok Antu’s API rose from 198 to 203, pushing it into the “Very Unhealthy” category, while Serian’s reading fell from 210 to 200.

Among the 12 stations recording “Unhealthy” air quality, Kapit recorded the biggest increase, with its API rising from 121 at 1pm to 133 at 5pm.

Kuching’s reading eased from 193 to 188, while Tebedu fell from 194 to 188 and Samarahan from 185 to 179.

The other “Unhealthy” readings were recorded in Betong (173), Sri Aman (172), Belaga (165), Bintulu (162), Sarikei (157), Sibu (156) and Samalaju (155).

Six stations recorded “Moderate” air quality: Mukah (99), Miri (85), Limbang (81), ILP Miri (80), Lawas (72) and Bario (70).

Mukah and Bario recorded no change from 1pm, while the other four stations registered lower readings.

Under the API classification, readings of 0 to 50 are considered “Good”, 51 to 100 “Moderate”, 101 to 200 “Unhealthy” and 201 to 300 “Very Unhealthy”.

Meanwhile, Department of Environment (DOE) deputy director-general (Development) Azuri Azizah Saedon said the haze was occurring amid persistent dry weather in parts of the southern Asean region.

In a statement, she cited the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre’s (ASMC) Sept 23 report, which recorded 792 hotspots in Kalimantan and 75 in Sumatra. No hotspots were detected in Malaysia, including Sarawak.

Azuri said the ASMC had also reported moderate transboundary smoke haze over north-western Borneo, with moderate to thick smoke plumes observed from clusters of hotspots in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra.

She said the DOE would continue monitoring fire risks, particularly in peatland areas and landfill sites, while intensifying inspections and patrols in areas vulnerable to open burning.

“The DOE will not compromise on any open burning found to have resulted from human activities, particularly where such activities contribute to deteriorating air quality,” she said.

Azuri also reminded the public that offences involving open burning under the Environmental Quality (Amendment) Act 2024 carry fines ranging from RM25,000 to RM1 million, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

The public is urged to refrain from open burning and report any fire or open burning incidents to the Fire and Rescue Department via 999 or the DOE’s toll-free line at 1-800-88-2727.