THE public in Negeri Sembilan is being advised against conducting any form of open burning, as it may further deteriorate air quality and pose health risks amid the current haze conditions.
Chairman of the State Committee for Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, Climate Change, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs, S. Veerapan, said that although the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings in the state remain at a moderate level, the Department of Environment (DoE) will be intensifying patrols to prevent illegal burning activities.
“The risk of open fires is particularly high in estates and shrubland, which are more susceptible during this dry spell,” he said in a statement issued today.
“For now, members of the public must refrain from all forms of open burning and are urged to immediately report any such activities to the Department of Environment.”
He added that residents should also consider limiting outdoor activities if API readings exceed unhealthy levels.
Veerapan noted that the haze affecting parts of the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia is primarily due to increased hotspot activity in Sumatra and Kalimantan, Indonesia.
As of 11am today, 60 air quality monitoring stations across Malaysia recorded moderate API levels, according to the Department of Environment’s Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS). Eight stations registered good air quality, including Kota Kinabalu Polytechnic, Kota Kinabalu and Kimanis in Sabah; Miri Industrial Training Institute, Sri Aman, Kapit, and Limbang in Sarawak; and Labuan.
No locations recorded unhealthy API readings at the time of reporting.
The API scale classifies air quality as follows: 0–50 (good), 51–100 (moderate), 101–200 (unhealthy), 201–300 (very unhealthy), and above 300 (hazardous). Data is updated hourly from 68 monitoring stations nationwide. - July 19, 2025
