Malaysia, RI in crisis talks over haze<\/p>\n
Agencies, Kuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
Schools closed, flights were canceled and people stayed
\nindoors as a noxious haze blamed on forest fires in Indonesia
\nthickened Wednesday to dangerous levels over Kuala Lumpur and
\nsurrounding towns, the Associated Press reported.<\/p>\n
Malaysia announced it would hold crisis talks with Indonesia
\nover the choking haze caused by forest fires in Sumatra which
\nreached hazardous levels in parts of the country Wednesday.<\/p>\n
In Port Klang, a major shipping centre just west of the
\ncapital Kuala Lumpur, the air pollution index (API) shot up to
\n410. Several other parts of the country recorded levels in excess
\nof 300 which is considered officially "hazardous".<\/p>\n
"If the API hits 500 we will declare it an emergency,"
\nEnvironment Minister Adenan Satem said. "The situation is not
\ngetting better, it is getting worse.<\/p>\n
"The cabinet has also instructed me to go to Jakarta to meet
\nour counterparts to identify long-term and short-term measures to
\nfight the haze. We will try to go as soon as possible," he said,
\nas quoted by Agence France Presse.<\/p>\n
Satem showed satellite images of Indonesia's Riau and North
\nSumatra provinces on Sumatra island where hundreds of forest
\nfires are raging, sending pollutants across the Malacca Strait
\nand onto Malaysia's central west coast.<\/p>\n
Satem said the haze, which appeared suddenly last week and has
\nhung in a persistent brown cloud, is concentrated over Klang
\nValley. The valley includes Malaysia's main city Kuala Lumpur,
\nthe administrative capital Putrajaya and a sprawling residential
\nneighborhood, Petaling Jaya.<\/p>\n
Flights at the Subang airport near Kuala Lumpur, used
\nprimarily by charter and private aircraft, were suspended after
\nvisibility plunged to less than 400 meters (1,300 feet), Daud
\nHosnan, senior operations manager for Malaysia Airports, told AP.<\/p>\n
In downtown Kuala Lumpur, where the smoke even filtered into
\nair-conditioned offices, nothing could be seen beyond 500 meters<\/p>\n
The Environment Ministry stated that air quality in three
\nplaces including Kuala Lumpur suburb Shah Alam had become
\n"hazardous" and Putrajaya and Petaling Jaya were "very
\nunhealthy". Hospitals reported a spurt in respiratory and eye
\nailments from the dust and smoke-laden white haze, causing red
\neyes, runny noses, wheezing coughs and sore throats.<\/p>\n
Health Minister Chua Soi Lek urged people to drink more water,
\ncut down outdoor activities, wear protective masks and to refrain
\nfrom smoking.<\/p>\n
The Kuala Lumpur Education Department said all schools would
\nbe closed Thursday and Friday after many students reported
\nbreathing problems, the Star newspaper reported. People walked
\nabout with masks over their noses and mouths, or simply used
\nhandkerchiefs to shield themselves from the acrid, throat-burning
\nsmoke.<\/p>",
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