MINISTRY, DOE TO MONITOR HAZE CONDITION WITH HELP FROM RELEVANT AGENCIES

KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Natural Resources and
Environment hope to be ready for any eventualities, including the haze, in view
of the expected dry spell from June to September, with the help of relevant
government agencies.

According to a statement from the ministry, the National Haze Committee that
was formed and the relevant agencies have been directed to prepare for any
eventualities.

The agencies will work with the police, Road Transport Department,
Department of Agriculture, RELA and the Fire and Rescue Department.

Apart from these agencies and department's the ministry would also seek the
cooperation of commercial airlines like Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and Air Asia to
report on open burning.

The statement added that a pilot project had also been initiated between
Malaysia and Indonesia with the expertise of the Global Environment Centre to
ensure sustainable management of peat to reduce the risk of peat fire in Rokan
Hilir and Riau in Indonesia.

The statement added that in many parts of the country, the quality of air
had dropped while the Air Pollution Index (API) recorded was between 51 and 100,
causing slight hazy conditions.

According to the Meteorological Department of Malaysia yesterday, Prai,
Bayan Lepas (Penang), Subang, Petaling Jaya (Selangor), Melaka and Kuantan
(Pahang), had experienced a drop in visibility (between 6km and 9km).

The Department Of Environment (DOE) would continue to monitor the situation
and API throughout the country said the statement.

The ministry advised the public to refrain from any open burning activities
and urged those who came across small fires or open burning, to report
immediately to the Fire and Rescue Department at 03-88880036 or the DOE at
1-800-88-2727.

In the past 10 years, fires have burnt over 2 million hectares of peatlands
in Indonesia and peatland fires were responsible for the majority of haze which
regularly engulfed Malaysia.
-- BERNAMA