Haze returns to Kuala Lumpur

Haze returns to Kuala Lumpur

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Air pollution in most populated parts of Peninsula Malaysia eased slightly yesterday but remained at unhealthy levels as winds blew smoke in from Indonesia's forest and peat fires, officials said.

"Steady southeasterly winds from South Kalimantan and Sumatra island are blowing the haze to the central and southern part of peninsula Malaysia," a meteorological department spokesman told AFP.

At 11:00 a.m. (12:00 p.m. Jakarta time), the Air Pollutant Index level in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur was at 134, Petaling Jaya 101, Gombak 103, Klang 99, Nilai 100 and in historic Malacca state it recorded 98. Readings above 100 are considered unhealthy.

The haze was expected to decrease in the late evening when the wind was forecast to shift to a northeasterly direction, the meteorological officer said. "But we expect haze to hit the west coast of the peninsula on Monday," he said.