Haze from Indonesia wreaks havoc in Malaysia

Haze from Indonesia wreaks havoc in Malaysia

Agencies, Kuala Lumpur

Choking haze continued to cloud Malaysian skies on Wednesday as smoke from forest fires in Indonesia threatened to close schools down in the capital Kuala Lumpur.

Air quality at five major states along the west coast had dropped to "unhealthy" levels of air quality, while visibility levels in the capital were dangerously low at two to three kilometers, said a spokesman for the Department of Environment.

Normal visibility levels are at 10 kilometers, she said.

The haze, which began on Monday, is one of the worst the country has experienced this year, and has prompted the government to caution the public against outdoor activities.

The haze also descended on Singapore on Wednesday although environment authorities said pollution levels were not yet strong enough to pose a health hazard.

The National Environment Agency said a wind change had caused the smoke from the fires on Indonesia's Sumatra island to drift toward Singapore, lifting the government's pollution standard index from "good" to "moderate".

"The impact on Singapore has not been bad so far but the prevailing winds are changing to a more south-westerly direction and beginning to blow the smoke haze toward Singapore," the agency said in a statement, adding there was a distinct burnt smell in the air throughout the city-state.

The agency said hazy conditions were expected to remain in Singapore for the rest of the week, although it was unlikely the pollution would reach unhealthy levels.

Malaysian Education Minister Hishamuddin Hussein said he would consider closing some schools if the air quality deteriorated further.

"The safety of our children is important and we cannot take it for granted. If the haze causes harm to their health, we will ask them to stay home," he was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times daily.

Southern Malacca state chief minister Mohamed Ali Rustam has ordered outdoor school activities to stop temporarily.

"Asthmatic patients and old folk are encouraged to stay indoors while commuters are advised to wear masks on the road as a preventive measure," Mohamed Ali was quoted as saying by the Star newspaper.

The haze is caused by smoke from Indonesian forest fires, which are attributed to both deliberate land clearance and accidental outbreaks, the environmental official told Deutsche Presse-Agentur.

Satellite images have detected some 300 hot spots in Indonesia's Sumatra island and Kalimantan district on Borneo island, she said.

Hot spot-areas showing high levels of heat - are believed to be from forest fires or open burnings.

Indonesian Forestry Department spokesman Asral Rachman said satellite images now showed 400 fires, or "hotspots," on Sumatra island.

"The hot spots are spreading," said Rachman.

The Kuala Lumpur International Airport saw no disruptions to flight schedules despite the low visibility.

The government on Monday issued a ban on all open-burning activities except for cremation.

Officials have said the smoky haze is expected to remain until the end of the week.

In 1997 and 1998, choking haze which was also caused by forest fires in Indonesia enveloped the region, causing serious health and traffic hazards and disrupting airline schedules.

The haze had caused an estimated US$9.3 billion in economic losses.