Easterly winds in early October will reduce haze - Environment Ministry

The transboundary haze from Sumatra and Kalimantan, Indonesia is expected to dissipate as Malaysia is forecast to receive easterly winds in early October.

"This situation will bring rainfall in most areas in the west coast of the peninsula and parts of western Sarawak in the afternoon and evening.

"It will hopefully reduce the haze from what we are experiencing right now," said a statement by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.

The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) based in Singapore detected 99 hotspots in Indonesia yesterday (Sept 29) of which 50 were in Kalimantan and 49 in Sumatera.

No hotspots were detected in Malaysia, said the statement.

Meanwhile, the Department of the Environment (DOE) detected 3,427 open burning cases throughout the country until September 27. Forest areas accounted for 597 cases, agricultural areas (1,197); industrial areas (19); construction areas (67); landfills (94); bushes (689) and small open burning (764).

For the same period, 216 open burning cases were issued compounds, 15 were issued with directive notices, 41 were issued with directive letters while 23 cases involved investigation papers.