More sophisticated, comprehensive API reading system expected by 2017 - Wan Junaidi

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry hopes to set up a more sophisticated and comprehensive system in the country to measure the air pollutant index (API), by 2017.

Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar on Wednesday said currently, his ministry was still trying to get the government's approval on its cost.

He, however, declined to state the cost as it is still under discussion.

Speaking at a news conference at the Kuching International Airport upon arrival from the federal capital, he said: "The technology for the system is in place and it's a combination of existing technologies used around the world.

"But its usage will be manifold and not just confined to measuring obnoxious gas levels, besides haze particles.

"We can use it to monitor rising sea levels and to predict rainfall so as to warn us well ahead of the possible occurrence of a flood," he said.

Wan Junaidi said the system was part of efforts to enhance the existing technoloy used.

He added that 20 of the API monitoring stations nationwide out of the current 52 would be up-dated.

Wan Junaidi, meanwhile, denied that the current API readings released by his ministry had been tampered with or doctored to give inaccurate readings as alleged by certain quarters.

"We are also sharing information with the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) in Singapore together with four other ASEAN countries, namely Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei.

"So, with the readings also done at the ASMC, there is no way for the government to release doctored readings and information," he said.