Malaysia skyline to return to normal by October

Malaysia can expect to be free from the trans-boundary haze by early next month as the effect from tropical Cyclone Dujuan, originating from the Philippines is forecasted to dissipate early next week.

Malaysian Meteorological Department director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail said the condition could happen tentatively from Sept 28 to 30.

Cyclone Dujuan which built up in the Philippines since last Tuesday, caused a change in wind direction and brought back the haze to the country after a short respite.

"The inter-monsoon season had set in the middle of this month, and the haze was supposed to clear by now. However, we can expect to be free from the haze soon," she told Bernama Saturday.

She said the inter monsoon season would also bring frequent rainfall in the afternoon.

On cloud seeding operations, Che Gayah said they would only be conducted when the Air Pollutant Index (API) in an area hit the unhealthy level for 72 consecutive hours (three consecutive days).

She said the department was monitoring the situation in Johor closely and was waiting for the Department of Environment for notification to carry out the operation.

"The criteria for the operation is that API for an area is at an unhealthy level for 72 hours consecutively. If there is improvement in API to moderate level in that period, we will have to reset the counting.

Three stations in Johor - Pasir Gudang, Larkin Lama and Kota Tinggi - which reported unhealthy API since Thursday, saw improvement in air quality this morning, with the index recorded at the moderate level as at 1pm.

In Kuala Lumpur, the API has been consistently in the moderate level in the past three days.

An API reading of 0 to 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy and 300 and above, hazardous.