THE public has been advised to cut back on outdoor activities, drink more water, stay indoors, and care for their health and safety.
Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, the state executive councillor for Youth, Sports, and Health, made this statement today while officiating the 2024 State Badminton Championships organised by the Penang Badminton Association at the Penang Badminton Hall in Bukit Dumbar.
He said that since early this morning, the API in Penang has continued to rise. As of 9am, the API in Seberang Jaya and Perai was 92, in Minden (Northeast Penang Island) it was 77, and in Balik Pulau, it was 76.
“If the Air Pollution Index exceeds 100, it reaches an unhealthy level. Therefore, I urge the public to stay indoors as much as possible and drink plenty of water.”
He added that Penang has been facing haze issues over the past few weeks. This is due to several “hotspots” detected in Sumatra, Indonesia, and the lack of rain in Penang recently.
“I believe the Education Department has its own standard operating procedures to decide whether schools should close. I leave it to the Education Department to make the announcement.”
When asked if there has been an increase in respiratory illnesses recently, Gooi said there has been no information about a rise in cases. He urged the public to seek medical attention at nearby clinics if they feel unwell.
According to data from the Department of Environment’s website, an Air Pollution Index between 0 and 50 represents good air quality, 51 to 100 is moderate, 101 to 200 is unhealthy, 201 to 300 is very unhealthy, and above 300 is hazardous.
Meanwhile, according to a statement by Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu, the state executive councillor for Housing and Environment, the API in Tanjung Bunga surged to an unhealthy level of 132 as of 8.30am yesterday.
“Despite the elevated levels in Tanjung Bunga, the Department of Environment (DoE) has not received any complaints related to severe haze in the past 24 hours.
“In efforts to mitigate haze, Penang authorities have intensified awareness campaigns against open burning.
“On July 19, DoE teams were mobilised across districts to enforce the ban on open burning, supported by weekend patrols.
“Residents are urged to refrain from open burning activities and report any instances to the DoE hotline or website,” Sundarajoo said.
The DoE operates four air surveillance stations across Penang, located in Seberang Jaya, Seberang Perai, Balik Pulau, and Minden.
In response to claims that the recent fire at the Pulau Burong landfill contributed to the haze, Penang DoE Director Norazizi Adinan clarified that the fire has been resolved and is not the primary cause of the haze.
“The fire case has been resolved and is not the main cause of the severe haze. The API is still under control.
“Looking ahead, the Department of Meteorology forecasts a potential decrease in haze due to anticipated rainfall this coming Saturday.
“This weather pattern offers hope for improving air quality in affected areas,” he said.
For further updates on haze conditions and preventive measures, residents are encouraged to stay informed through official channels and heed advisory notices from local authorities. Open burning can be reported to the DoE hotline at 1-800-88-2727 or via email at https://eaduan.doe.gov.my.
Story by Nurul Hawa Farahin Hameddy
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud & Alissala Thian