KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia has been experiencing haze since August 8, with 11 air monitoring stations recording unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings and one station in Sarawak recording a very unhealthy reading as of 3pm today, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) said.

In a statement today, the ministry said the El Niño phenomenon occurring alongside the Southwest Monsoon had resulted in several areas, particularly southern Peninsular Malaysia and western and southern Sarawak, receiving below-average rainfall.

The combination of lower rainfall and higher temperatures could increase the risk of water shortages, forest and peat fires, as well as haze, particularly in areas experiencing prolonged dry conditions, it said.

As of 3pm today, 11 of the 68 air quality monitoring stations recorded unhealthy API readings. These were Cheras in Kuala Lumpur (122), Putrajaya (121), Shah Alam in Selangor (112), and in Sarawak, Miri (152), Samalaju (120), Bintulu (154), Sibu (135), Sarikei (161), Sri Aman (158), Samarahan (177) and Kuching (177).

The Sarawak station at Serian recorded a very unhealthy API reading of 204.

NRES said the deterioration in air quality in Sarawak was caused by transboundary haze as well as local fires at a waste disposal site under the supervision of the Sibu Municipal Council, covering an estimated 1.5 hectares, and forest and bush fires in Sri Aman covering about 100 hectares. Firefighting operations were ongoing at both locations.

Based on the Regional Haze Map and information issued by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) today, dry conditions were observed across southern Asean, except in parts of northern Sumatra where rain was reported.