Sashidaran Gunathevan
Indonesia says Malaysia and Singapore welcome the easing of haze in Malaysia and the region. Its government said so on Saturday, after talks in Manila on 13 November. The haze crisis filled October’s news.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir met Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Dato Seri Utama Mohamad Hasan. Indonesia said the three agreed to work more closely through ASEAN. However, only Indonesia named haze as a topic.
Malaysia’s own data back the claim. On 4 November, 23 areas had good air and 45 were moderate, with none unhealthy. However, those are our newest figures. Therefore, check the live API portal before you travel.
Haze in Malaysia: latest API readings and DOE figures
The Department of Environment (DOE) said on 2 November that no site was unhealthy. At 3pm that day, 39 areas were moderate and 29 were good. Deputy Director-General Azuri Azizah Saedon gave the news.
On 4 November at 9am, 23 areas were good and 45 were moderate, per a Bernama report. The top reading was Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur at 73. Meanwhile, Cheras read 58 and Putrajaya read 62.
In addition, Johor had eight moderate areas. Pasir Gudang read 64 and Larkin read 63. By contrast, Segamat led the country at 187 on 8 October. Now it reads 52.
Good is 0 to 50. Moderate is 51 to 100. Unhealthy starts at 101. The DOE posts them on its APIMS portal. As a result, the nation is far from the 38 unhealthy areas of 8 October.
Why haze in Malaysia is easing: monsoon winds and rain
Azuri said the Northeast Monsoon should shift the wind. They will blow from the northeast. Therefore, less smoke from Sumatra could reach us. That is good news.
In addition, more humid weather and rain are due. Likewise, ASEAN’s weather centre has cut its haze alert. The DOE outlook came out on 2 November.
Read more: Haze school closures: the API rules every parent should know
Read more: Prabowo haze order steps up firefighting, aid not discussed
Read more: Haze: What tourists planning to head to Batam should know
However, fire hotspots are still being found in parts of Southeast Asia. Azuri urged the public to watch the API and heed the advice. The same monsoon brings floods too. Johor counted 337 flood hotspots as it began.
Meanwhile, rain is easing the fires in Kalimantan. On 13 November, Indonesia’s disaster agency said hotspots were falling in most regions. However, East Kalimantan rose 77%. Fires there had burned 10,910 hectares by 7 November.
Haze in Malaysia and the Manila talks: what was said
All three ministers were in Manila for ASEAN meetings. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had just arrived there too. Indonesia said Malaysia and Singapore welcomed the improvement. We found no statement from either side that mentions haze.
Vivian’s Instagram post cited regular talks on issues of mutual concern, but not haze. Mohamad posted photos. However, Indonesia said the three agreed to strengthen coordination and communication. We found no other account of what was agreed.
Earlier, on 27 October, Vivian met Arrmanatha in Jakarta. They discussed a joint task force on firm responsibility. It would link shared data and cross-border evidence. Both sides agreed that guilty firms must be held to account.
That followed President Prabowo Subianto’s order to step up firefighting in October. In short, haze in Malaysia has now eased. Of 68 areas, 45 are moderate and none are unhealthy. Hotspots remain. So keep watching the API.
Yalinie Mathan
C. Khor
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