As Malaysia gears up for the scorching heat to continue, the country is once again faced with the problematic issue of transboundary haze. The issue has repeatedly plagued Malaysia for years, with the neighboring countries of Indonesia being the source of the haze due to forest fires caused by slash-and-burn practices. The ill effects of the haze on human health and the environment cannot be ignored, and it is crucial to address this ongoing problem as the heat continues to rise. In this article, we explore the effects of transboundary haze on Malaysia and what measures can be taken to curb its impact.
Hotspots and haze are causing problems in various neighbouring countries and Malaysia, leaving residents and visitors alike struggling to deal with the effects. The hot and hazy conditions have been contributed to by the dry weather, which is causing an increase in fires. The situation has affected the northern states of Penang, Kedah and Perlis, with visibility in Penang being affected by the haze despite moderate air pollution readings on the island and mainland.
On Saturday April 15, an API of 69 was recorded in Balik Pulau, with George Town registering 78 and Tanjung Bungah 118, indicating unhealthy levels at the latter location. The mainland is registering between 74 and 83 at various locations, which means they are classified as “moderate” under the API scale. Good air quality is shown by an API reading of between 0 and 50, while moderate readings are between 51 and 100, unhealthy readings are between 101 and 200, very unhealthy ones are between 201 and 300, with readings above 301 considered hazardous.
An escalation of hotspots and haze in Myanmar, Thailand and Laos have also been reported by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC). The agency says that Level 3 alerts at the Mekong sub-region indicate that there are significant and persistent hotspot activities leading to moderate to dense smoke haze being seen over two or more consecutive days. As smoke haze is blown from hotspots by prevailing winds towards neighbouring Asean countries, the dry conditions prevailing mean that Malaysia is likely to continue to experience heat and haze.
“The current dry conditions are expected to persist in the coming days, with the prevailing winds forecast to blow from the northeast. The hotspots and smoke haze activities in the Mekong sub-region have escalated since the start of the northern Asean dry season in December 2022,” ASMC reported. While rainfall is expected to be near-to-above normal in the Mekong sub-region over the next few months, prolonged dry periods are still expected, making it likely that the hotspot and smoke haze situation will remain elevated until the end of the traditional dry season in May 2023.
The Mekong sub-region includes Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.
With air quality worsening, it is important that residents and visitors take steps to minimize potential health impacts. These include avoiding outdoor activities, reducing outdoor physical exertion, staying indoors, and wearing masks when having to be outside. Those with existing respiratory issues such as asthma should take extra precautions. Schools in Penang, Kedah and Perlis have been closed as a result of the haze since mid-April, and these states have also set up disaster management committees to monitor the situation. Additionally, the Malaysian government has asked the public to report any open burning incidents to the authorities and advised that it will prosecute offenders.
The hotspots and ensuing haze that have arisen as a result of dry conditions need to be carefully managed to help reduce their impact on human health, agriculture, and livelihoods. While rain may be welcome in certain quarters, it is important to have sustained amounts that can help reduce the risk of fires and the smoke they cause, with the ASMC warning that it will be some time before there is sustained rainfall in this region. Meanwhile, health precautions and effective governance will be necessary to help mitigate the effects of hotspots and haze.
