Moderate haze has occurred in Muar, Johor due to land and forest fires in Pahang.     

In a statement yesterday, Natural Resources and Environment Minister G Palanivel said the current hot and dry weather caused suspended dust particles to be accumulated in the air.     

"The discharging of industrial emission and earthworks also contributed to the haze," he said.     

A total of 1,206 cases of open burning were detected so far this year, involving, among others, forest fires (237); agricultural (404) and industrial (18).     

He said Department of Environment (DOE) would continue to closely monitor the situation and status of air quality in the the country and had activated the Open Burning Prevention Action Plan in all states.    

Meanwhile, according to the DOE's website yesterday, areas in Muar were still recorded as having unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 112, as of 9pm last night.     

The website also showed API readings in 20 areas as healthy while 28 were moderate.     

Among areas which recorded healthy API readings were Alor Setar, Kedah (33), Jerantut, Pahang (37), Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (44), Miri, Sarawak (32) and Paka, Terenganu (33).     

Areas which recorded moderate readings are Pasir Gudang, Johor (55), Tanah Merah, Kelantan (six), Nilai, Negeri Sembilan (74), Tanjung Malim (59), Petaling Jaya, Selangor (69) and Cheras, Kuala Lumpur (86).     

API reading of between 0 and 50 are categorised as good; 51 to 100 (moderate); 101 to 200 (unhealthy); 201 to 300 (very unhealthy); and, 300 and above (danger).     

- Bernama