(Sept 2): Many in Peninsular Malaysia are still seeing grey as the haze continues to engulf various parts of the country.

According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department, satellite imagery yesterday captured 380 hotspots in Sumatera, six in Peninsular Malaysia, and nine in Kalimantan.

“The severity of the haze would depend on the number of hotspots currently over Sumatera,” Meteorological Department officer Ambun Dindang said.

He said the southwest monsoon, which was currently drawing the smoke and soot from Indonesia to Malaysia, will end this month.

“October is the inter monsoon-season, which is characterised by frequent thunderstorms in the afternoon over the west coast states.”

Though rain could help, Ambun said, dispersal of the haze still hinged upon the number of hotspots over Sumatera decreasing.

The Air Pollutant Index (API) on the Department of Environment website this morning showed steadily decreasing air quality in Kuala Lumpur,  Selangor and various parts of the peninsula.

The readings, however were in the 51 to 100 range, which indicates  moderate.

APIs in the 100 to 200 range is unhealthy; 200 to 300, very unhealthy; and above 300, hazardous.

In Cheras, the API rose from 71 at 6am to 80 at 1pm, while in Putrajaya, it went from 81 at 6am to 87 at 1pm.

The worst-hit in Selangor so far today are Bantung, which had an API of 87 at 6am increasing to 92 at 1pm, and Shah Alam, with 85 at 6am to 91 at 1pm.

In Petaling Jaya, the API went from 79 at 6am to 87 at 1pm.

According to the Malaysian Meteorological website, visibility improved slightly from 1.5km at 8am to 3km at noon in Petaling Jaya, and from 2km at 8am to 6km at noon in Subang Jaya. – The Malaysian Insider