Haze: 3,029 schools closed

A total of 3,029 schools in the country remain closed today, the second day running for a number of them, due to haze caused by uncontrollable forest fires raging in Kalimantan and Sumatra, Indonesia.

Oct 20, 2015

KUCHING: A total of 3,029 schools in the country remain closed today, the second day running for a number of them, due to haze caused by uncontrollable forest fires raging in Kalimantan and Sumatra, Indonesia.

The closure of these schools affected 1,909,842 students. The affected schools are in Melaka; Negeri Sembilan; Selangor; Kuala Lumpur; Putrajaya; Muar, Ledang and Segamat in Johor; Kuching and Samarahan in Sarawak; and Tawau, Lahad Datu, Semporna and Kunak in Sabah.

The API readings in many of the affected areas remained at the ‘unhealthy’ level and showing little sign of improvement anytime soon.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dato Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, when contacted yesterday, said forest fires were still raging in Kalimantan and only monsoon rain could douse it. He believed human intervention in extinguishing the fires was not likely to have much impact due to the severity of the fires.

“This is a lesson for Indonesia and us not to play with fire when finding the fastest and cheapest solution to clear forests.

“In Palangkaraya City, Central Kalimantan, for instance, the air is completely unhealthy. Not only they suffer, even neighbours like us suffer along with them.”

As of 5pm yesterday, the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings for southern Sarawak were at the ‘moderate’ level, with Kuching at 95, Samarahan 96 and Sri Aman 91.

In the peninsula, Seremban, in Negeri Sembilan, recorded the highest reading of 194. Wan Junaidi said the change in wind direction had caused smoke from Kalimantan to move to certain parts of Sarawak and Sabah and those from Sumatra to the peninsula.

“The Westerly wind from the Indian Ocean was supposed to recede by the first week of October, but it did not really happen due to the El Nino’s influence on typhoons Dujuan and Majigae, which happened at the end of September and the first week of October, respectively.

“Before the impact of low pressure in the South China Sea receded, Typhoon Koppu in the Philippines and Typhoon Champi in China are raging now.

“These caused the cycle of winds blowing from Southeasterly and Westerly directions to bring the haze from Sumatra back to Peninsular Malaysia and the Kalimantan haze back to Sarawak and Sabah.”

Meanwhile, several elderly folk at Butterfly Garden (the site for the night market) in Sibu were spotted grumbling about haze making a comeback here. When approached, an elderly man complained that when the API reading was higher previously, he was forced to stay indoors.

“I come here often to chat with my friends. But if it is too hazy, I will stay at home for fear haze can affect my health. I really hope for clear skies soon,” he said.--The Borneo Post