KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia plans to carry out cloud seeding in central Selangor state and parts of the peninsular to fight the haze sweeping the region, the Star newspaper reported, citing government deputy minister Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis.
Indonesian authorities are investigating four companies, including palm oil producers, over fires on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan. As many as 42 properties have been sealed off, the Antara news agency reported.
Singapore and Malaysia have been plagued for decades by periodic haze caused by clouds of ash from fires in neighboring Indonesia, with pollution levels at hazardous levels causing deaths and respiratory illnesses. Stinging smoke from illegal burning to clear land for palm oil and paper plantations has prompted school closures and disrupted travel in the region, and even forced Indonesians to flee their homes.
More than 300 schools in Malaysia’s southern state of Johor were closed Sunday after the Air Pollutant Index hit very unhealthy levels, the Star reports. Johor’s weekend is Friday and Saturday with Sunday being a normal work day.