The familiar signs are all there - dry weather, dusty conditions and the lingering smell of smoke in the air - to signal a return to hazy days in various parts of the country.

haze air pollution index map for june 9 090609 A Meteorological Department spokesperson said south-westerly winds sweeping across the west coast of Malaysia are bringing soot and dust generated by open burning in Sumatra in Indonesia.

“We are monitoring the situation very closely. It is not serious enough to warrant cloud seeding,” she said when contacted.

A call to the Department of Environment (DOE) hotline revealed that the situation will depend very much on how authorities in Sumatra now deal with open burning, a traditional practice in clearing land.

The department advised the public to report any incidents of open burning, saying that Jalan Kebun and Kota Kemuning in Selangor are among the hot spots that have been identified to date.

‘Moderate’ conditions

Penang Health, Welfare and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh told Star yesterday that the situation has worsened and that he hoped the Indonesian government will act against those responsible.

Last week, DOE head Rosnani Ibarahim had told Bernama that the conditions were due to the dry season rather than to haze.

A check on the air pollutant index on the department’s website revealed that most parts of the country are experiencing good to moderate conditions today.

Cheras and Port Klang were identifed as experiencing the upper reaches of the 'moderate'.

Such conditions have recurred annually, despite various neighbouring governments having urged Indonesia to prevent open burning, as well as having provided assistance in controlling raging fires.