KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today he has personally contacted Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto regarding the “alarming” level of transboundary haze affecting Malaysia and the region.
Speaking to reporters at an impromptu press conference outside the Finance Ministry today, he said the relevant ministries are also in contact with their regional counterparts to address the problem.
“The matter of the haze is at an alarming level and I’ve personally contacted President Prabowo, and he has agreed to take the necessary steps,” Anwar said.
He said the government is concerned about the impact on the health of Malaysians and has therefore stepped up the frequency of cloud seeding in an effort to mitigate the situation, notwithstanding unsatisfactory recent results.
His remarks come as the Department of Environment (DOE) reported that 38 areas in Malaysia recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index readings at 3pm today.
The DOE, citing the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre, said 94 hotspots were detected in Kalimantan and 210 in Sumatra on Oct 7, with moderate to dense transboundary haze observed over southern and central Sumatra, Singapore and the southern Peninsula.
Earlier today, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, urged authorities to close schools in areas with elevated API readings of over 150.
