KUALA LUMPUR: The haze emergency imposed on Kuala Selangor and Port Klang has been lifted after the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings in both areas dropped to below 500.
National Security Council (NSC) secretary Datuk Ab Hamid Othman said the withdrawal of the emergency status was on the directive of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also National Operations Director.
“However, government agencies, the private sector and those involved in dealing with the haze problem should continue to intensify efforts to ensure the air quality continues to be at a satisfactory level,” he said in a statement here.
The haze emergency was declared in both areas on Wednesday when the API readings surged above 500, a level classified as “hazardous” to health.
Yesterday's change in the wind direction brought joy to residents in the Klang Valley but woe to those living in the northern states.
The Meteorological Department said winds from the south and south-easterly direction had shifted hazy conditions from the Klang Valley to Perak, Penang, Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu. API reading for the northern states began rising on Friday.
He added that this wind condition was expected to continue for the next few days.
The department also carried out two cloud seeding flights yesterday afternoon.
Director-general Chow Kok Kee, when contacted, said one flight covered the area over Sungai Tinggi in Selangor, while the other covered Perak.
As at 5pm yesterday, the API level in Kuala Selangor fell to 228 from 527 while that in Port Klang dropped to 182 from 486 a day before.
