KUALA LUMPUR — Selangor will conduct cloud-seeding operations on Friday (Sept 13) in haze-hit areas registering 200 and above on the air pollutant index (API), reported news agency Bernama. 

In a statement on Thursday, the Malaysian state’s Environment, Green Technology, Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Hee Loy Sian said disaster management committees were activated in districts where the API read 151-200 for more than 24 hours. A reading above 200 is considered very unhealthy.

Selangor’s government will also be supplying dust masks to the public, Bernama reported.

“All schools, kindergartens and nurseries were ordered closed immediately when the API reading exceeded 200 (as confirmed by) the Selangor Department of Environment (DoE),” said Mr Hee. 

Mr Hee reminded residents not to carry out open burning during the haze season.

“All parties are urged not to allow their land and premises to be trespassed by irresponsible parties to carry out open burning,” he added.

Malaysian authorities on Wednesday prohibited all forms of open burning except cremations and religious rituals in an attempt to reduce the harmful effects of the haze. 

Those found guilty of open burning face a maximum RM500,000 (S$165,000) fine or five years in jail, or both, and a compound fine of RM2,000 could also be imposed for each offence, said Mr Hee. 

A report by Malaysian newspaper The Star on Thursday said 29 schools in Selangor would close on Friday due to the worsening air quality. 

On Thursday, unhealthy air quality forced 19 schools in Selangor and 26 schools in Pahang to close, according to The Malaysian Insight. 

As of 7am on Friday, various parts of Selangor registered API readings ranging from 109 to 209, according to the DoE website.

An API reading of more than 100 is considered unhealthy, while readings above 300 are deemed hazardous. AGENCIES