Poisonous Haze worsens in Malaysia
Pastor Dale Morgan
Poisonous Haze worsens in Malaysia*
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 (AFP) Oct 17, 2006
The air quality in Malaysia worsened Tuesday and visibility at airports
nationwide remained poor due to poisonous smog from forest fires in
neighbouring Indonesia, officials said.
The number of areas in west peninsula posting unhealthy pollution levels
rose to nine from seven on Monday, the environment department said.
In the historical state of Malacca, which faces Indonesia's Sumatra
island, readings on the Air Pollutant Index registered 121. Readings in
the range of 101-200 on the index are deemed unhealthy.
Also badly hit were the towns of Johor Bahru, Muar and Larkin in
southern Johor state, which neighbours Singapore, with readings of 134,
121 and 126 respectively.
In the capital, Kuala Lumpur, the pollution index rose slightly Tuesday
to 96, higher than Monday's 80.
Visibility at Kuala Lumpur International Airport was down to three
kilometres (1.86 miles), less than half the normal 10 kilometres. But
officials said poor visibility had not affected air travel.
Indonesian farmers burn forests annually to clear land for agriculture,
causing a smokey haze that spreads around the region during the dry
season, affecting tourism and causing health problems.
The government has outlawed land-clearing by fire but its weak
enforcement means the ban is largely ignored.
Environment ministers from Singapore, Malaysia and other regional
nations have urged Indonesia to promptly ratify a regional treaty aimed
at preventing cross-border haze pollution.