Haze back in some parts of Malaysia

Gloomy skies over Karpal Singh Drive in Penang. PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The air quality has worsened slightly in some places in Malaysia.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said that places like the Klang Valley and Nilai had moderate air quality due to small fires at local levels during the hot and dry weather.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department said the hazy conditions might worsen in the next two months, if the dry season continued.

"Recent observations show that Malaysia might encounter moderate transboundary haze if the heatwave continues.

Transboundary haze is the movement of haze from one country to another, explains Dr Hisham Mohd Anip, a senior meteorologist from the department's National Weather Centre.

He said there might be an increase in haze in Malaysia and neighbouring countries, even as far as north Australia, if the dry season progressed.

"Haze is normal in the month of June to August in Malaysia because we are in the south-west monsoon season, which is considered a dry season," he said.

Observations by the Meteorological Department also indicate that current temperatures are equivalent to a weaker version of the El Nino phenomenon.

"The intensity of this El Nino effect is predicted to increase from weak to moderate so the haze might worsen," he added.

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