Global Courant 2023-04-16 07:00:01
PETALING JAYA – Malaysians should brace themselves for more hazy days as the weather will become hotter and drier in the coming months, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said.
“We expect to see more haze especially during the current monsoon transition period which will last until August.
“Conditions during this transition period tend to be hot and much drier, which could result in more hotspots,” he told The Star on Saturday.
He acknowledged that there are currently several areas in Peninsular Malaysia with poor air quality.
“This is not true for other areas where their air quality is progressively deteriorating,” he said, adding that the country’s hazy conditions are caused by peat fires and open burning.
In addition to the hot and drier weather during the monsoon transition period, the resumption of economic activities after the Covid-19 pandemic also contributed to the haze, Mr. Nik Nazmi said.
“We have been spared the haze for the past two or three years as economic activity slowed due to the pandemic.
“But the economy has now fully reopened and is running at full speed again. As such, we expect the haze to return,” he said.
Mr Nik Nazmi said the government had anticipated the possibility of the haze returning.
“Malaysia is not the only country with hot and dry weather. Several other countries in the region are also affected,” he said.
“In fact, we have already planned ahead and will be holding a multi-agency meeting in the coming days to discuss the possibility of drier conditions and haze affecting the country.”
He said several ministries would be called in under the direction of a special task force to address the issue.
Among them are the National Disaster Management Agency, the Department of Health, the Department of the Environment (DOE), the Department of Fire and Rescue Services and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, he added.
Mr Nik Nazmi said the focus would be on the illegal opening of fires by the private sector.
According to him, this was mainly necessary to prevent peat fires.
