Labuan: Air quality in Labuan remained at an unhealthy level this afternoon, with the Air Pollutant Index (API) rising to 170 as at 2 pm amid continued transboundary haze affecting the Borneo region.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, a spokesman for the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) in Labuan said developments in Sarawak could provide an indication of when air quality here is likely to improve. The spokesman explained, 'If Sarawak begins recording an improvement in air quality, Labuan is also expected to see a similar improvement, based on the prevailing movement of the haze.'
The spokesman added that rainfall recorded over the past few days had also not brought any significant improvement to Labuan's air quality. Meanwhile, the Labuan Department of Environment (DOE) stated that the deterioration in air quality is linked to transboundary haze believed to have originated from forest and peatland fires in Kalimantan, with smoke carried by prevailing winds towards parts of Borneo, including Labuan.
The department has increased daily enforcement and patrols in areas prone to open burning while continuously monitoring API readings. Landowners have been advised to closely monitor fire-prone areas, including landfills, forests, bushes, agricultural land, and industrial areas, to prevent unauthorized activities that could lead to open burning and further worsen air quality.
The DOE also reminded the public that open burning is prohibited under Section 29A of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, with offenders facing fines between RM25,000 and RM1 million, imprisonment of up to five years, or both. Compounds may also be imposed according to existing provisions.
Members of the public are advised to monitor hourly API readings through the DOE's API Management System (APIMS) and MyJAS EQMS application, and to refer to the Health Ministry for health advice and preventive measures during the haze. The public is also urged to report open burning or fire incidents to the Labuan Fire and Rescue Department or the Labuan DOE.