KUCHING: Sarawak’s air quality is good, with recorded Air Pollutant Index (API) readings at below 50.
At 3pm yesterday, the Department of Environment (DOE), on its website, said the API reading in Kuching was 17.
An API reading of 0 to 50 means the air quality is good and public can engage in outdoor activities without health concerns. An API reading of 51 to 100 means the air quality is moderate while an API reading of 101 to 200 means that the quality of air is unhealthy.
An API reading of 201 to 300 means the air quality is very unhealthy
while an API reading of 301 to 500 means the air quality is hazardous.
If the API exceeds 500, a state of emergency is declared in the area where it is reported; non-essential government services may be suspended, and all ports in the affected area will be closed.
According to NREB Controller of Environmental Quality Sarawak, Peter Sawal, although the weather has been hot and dry in the past few days, the weather is good due to the rain yesterday.
“Trans-boundary haze is less likely to come back to Sarawak this year,” he added during a briefing on the air quality status at the NREB Headquarters here yesterday.
Based on the movements of the winds, Peter explained Sarawak would not be hit by smokes due to the burning activities in Kalimantan.
The winds, he said, were expected to blow towards the sea of Kalimantan and not towards Sarawak.
He added that as of July 2018, 42 hotspots were detected in Sarawak.
“Kalimantan and Sumatra recorded the highest numbers of hotspots at 190 and 159 respectively,” he said.
For Peninsular Malaysia, and Sabah, Peter said the numbers of hotspots were 35 and 6 respectively. But no hotspots were reported in Brunei.
“NREB has received 13 public complaints on open burning and issued three compounds,” he said.
Earlier, Peter revealed that NREB would be setting up two Automatic Air Quality Monitoring Stations (AQMS) to monitor the air quality. The station in Lundu will be set up this year while the station in Bario will be set up next year.
At the moment, there are 13 AQMS located in the cities and towns in the state. Ten are managed and operated by the Department of Environment (DOE) and three by NREB. The stations are located at Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Sibu, Kapit, Bintulu, Miri, Limbang, Tebedu, Lubok Antu and Lawas.
Peter revealed that NREB would be working closely with other agencies such as the Department of Environment (DOE), State Security and Enforcement Unit in the Chief Minister’s Department, Fire and Rescue Department (BOMBA), Police Department and the Resident Office to carry out coordinated efforts to identify burning areas, douse fires and catch culprits.
Also present at the briefing yesterday were NREB Monitoring and Reporting Section Environmental Control Officer, George Nyaon, DOE Senior Principal Assistant Director (Operation), Amirul Aripin, and Deputy Director of Enforcement State Security and Enforcement Unit in the Chief Minister’s Department, Dato’ Haji Mohamad Morshidi Mustapha.
