Air quality in Melaka deteriorates

The Air Pollutant Index (API) in the state climb to as high as 96 at 3pm, close to unhealthy levels, while Bukit Rambai and Muar registered API readings of 83 and 91 respectively.

According to the Department of Environment (DOE), an API reading of below 50 is regarded as good, 50-100 is moderate, 100-200 is unhealthy, 200-300 very unhealthy and above 300 hazardous.

State DOE Deputy Director Hedzir Zakaria said, the medium-level haze that the country is experiencing now is due to internal sources resulting from land and forest fires in a few states.

He also dismissed the possibility the country was experiencing cross-border haze at this time because of the wind patterns.

In June last year Malaysia and Singapore choked on the worst haze in more than a decade caused by fires in Indonesia, mainly on Sumatra island due to the slash and burn method used to clear land for cultivation.

The government had also declared a state of emergency in Muar and Ledang after its API reading surpassed the 500 mark.

Hedzir said in March alone over 40 hotspots had been detected in the state compared to only one recorded in January.

The department had also detected 20 cases of open burning and those responsible have already been fined and will be brought to court.

The penalty is RM2,000 for the offence.