By Elly Fazaniza

PETALING JAYA: After recording unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings in many areas for days, Peninsular Malaysia saw an improvement in air quality today with rain and fewer cases of open burning, forest and peat fires.

A check at the Fire and Rescue Department website showed a drop of 80%, or 469 cases of open burning, forest and peat fires nationwide.

On June 23, 583 cases of fire breakouts were reported and the number reduced to 114 today.

Burning activities also dropped to 36 cases in Selangor today as opposed to last Monday's 49 cases, while Perak and Pahang showed 23 and 19 cases respectively.

The skies had also been clearer across the peninsula with fewer hotspots in Sumatra, providing most parts of the west coast a respite from the haze.

Google's Crisis Map showed that the API readings for most states were ranged between healthy and moderate with the exception of Banting, Selangor, which was at 107 (unhealthy).

The map also indicated seven hotspots in Sumatra at a hazardous level with an API reading of 300 or above.

According to US-based environmental organisation World Resources Institute on Saturday, the Sumatran fires were concentrated in Bengkalis, Rokan Hilir and Pelalawan districts where there are pulpwood, oil palm and logging concessions.

Meanwhile, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel reminded Malaysians that trans-boundary haze pollution will affect the country amid the southwest monsoon season, which lasts until September.

He said the south-westerly winds will bring moderate haze from fires in Riau province and central Sumatra to the central west coast of the Peninsular.

He advised Malaysians against open burning and take proactive measures to put out small fires or call the Fire and Rescue Department should they spot bush, forest and peat soil fires.