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KUALA LUMPUR - Air quality in regions of Malaysia edged towards unhealthy levels and visibility worsened due to smog from forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia, a senior meteorological official said Monday.
Lim Sze Fook, director of environmental studies at the Meteorological Services Department, blamed the haze on forest-burning in Sumatra, Indonesia.
"There are more than 200 hotspots in Sumatra as of today and the winds are blowing over," Lim told AFP, adding that dry weather until the end of the week would make the haze worse.
Lim said the western coast from central Selangor state to the northern states of Perak, Penang, Kedah and Perlis was affected.
"From what the Department of Environment has told me today, all the air pollution indices are still below 100," Lim said, adding that the highest level was found in Selangor.
There were 92 hotspots in Sumatra and 76 hotspots Friday.
The Air Pollution Index (API) considers a score of 101-200 to be unhealthy.
The API for the five states as at Sunday evening all showed readings between 51 and 75, which is considered moderate.
The haze, which made an appearance in Penang on Saturday, worsened Monday and reduced visibility on the island, state news agency Bernama reported.
Indonesian farmers burn forests annually to clear land for agriculture.
The government has outlawed the practice but weak enforcement means the ban is largely ignored.
The haze hit its worst level in 1997-1998 and cost the Southeast Asian region an estimated nine billion dollars by disrupting air travel and other business activities. - AFP/ir
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