Showing posts with label haze. Show all posts
Showing posts with label haze. Show all posts

Tuesday, 25 June 2013

Parliament: Haze forces King to inspect guard-of-honour in banquet hall


The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah and Queen Tuanku Haminah arriving at the opening of 13th Parliament session in Kuala Lumpur.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah and Queen Tuanku Haminah arriving at the opening of 13th Parliament session in Kuala Lumpur.
 
KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time in Malaysian history, the opening ceremony of the Parliament was held indoors due to the haze.

The customary inspection of the guard-of-honour was held at the banquet hall of the Parliament building.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah was greeted by Cabinet members before heading off to the Dewan Rakyat to open the first meeting of the first session of the13th Parliament which will go on until July 18.

In his opening speech, the King reminded all Members of Parliament (MPs) to remain loyal to the country and not to attempt activities that may destroy the country.

Najib seeks Yudhoyono's cooperation to enforce stricter punishment against those causing haze

PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Najib Razak will send an official letter to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, seeking cooperation from the republic to enforce more effective measures to punish those responsible for causing the haze.

Najib said he had asked Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel to meet his counterpart in Indonesia with regard to the matter on Wednesday.

"The question of who owns the plantations is not the issue here but when something of this magnitude happens, there should be no concern of whether the plantations are owned by Indonesia, Malaysia or Singapore but rather action taken against those responsible," he said after chairing a Barisan Nasional Supreme Council meeting, here, yesterday.

He was commenting on steps taken by the government to tackle the haze problem that has become an annual affair.

Najib said Malaysia would offer aircrafts that can be used as water bombers to assist in putting out fires at the affected areas.

"The special aircrafts can absorb and store water that can be splashed on areas affected by the fire, including fire involving peat soil. Putting out fire which keeps burning below the surface will not be an easy task, so a more effective method is needed," he said.

Najib added that a special prayer "solat hajat" would also be performed at Masjid Negara today, seeking divine intervention and asking for rain since heavy rain can help solve the problem. -Bernama

(Source: http://www.mmail.com.my)

Sunday, 23 June 2013

Haze: PM declares emergency status in Muar and Ledang (Updated)


G. Palanivel.
G. Palanivel.
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has agreed to declare emergency status on Sunday in Muar and Ledang with immediate effect after the API readings reached more than 750, said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel.

As of 7.00am Sunday, the air pollutant index (API) in Muar has spiked to 746, which is more than twice the standard hazardous levels according to the Department of Environment website.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported two cities in Malacca also were in hazardous API territory as at 7am Sunday namely Bandaraya Melaka and Bukit Rambai with readings of 357 and 334 respectively.

Palanivel said the highest API ever recorded in Malaysia was in Sarawak in 1997 with a reading of 860.

He also said that the National Security Council (NSC) would issue instructions for residents to stay indoors and direct schools in several states to remain closed.

"NSC should look at cloud seeding operations immediately," he said. - Bernama

(Source: The Star Online)

Reduce Outdoor Activities, Drink Plenty Of Water During Haze, Advises Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib who is concerned with the current haze situation in the country advises the public to reduce outdoor activities and drink lots of water.

The Prime Minister said health should remain the number one priority for everyone, adding that the haze situation in Malaysia was going to worsen in the coming days with winds carrying smoke from hot spots in Sumatra, Indonesia.

"Just yesterday, Melaka reached hazardous levels," he wrote in his Facebook posting.

According to the Department of Environment, the air quality nationwide slightly improved Monday with only four places recording unhealthy levels based on the Air Pollutant Index (API) as compared to six, on Sunday.

The four are Bandaraya Melaka (102); Balok Baru (114) and Indera Mahkota (107) in Kuantan as well as Kemaman (121) in Terengganu.


(Source: Bernama)