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.