PETALING JAYA, Oct 8 — Hazy skies were seen across the country yesterday with smoke drifting across the Strait of Malacca from hotspots identified in Sumatra, Indonesia.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said 97 hotspots were detected.

“Based on satellite observations, there is a circle of smoke in central and southern regions of Sumatra, as well as in the central region of Kalimantan,” he said.

However, there was one hotspot detected in Sarawak.

“Hotspots in Malaysia will be investigated and appropriate action will be taken,” he said.

Department of Environment director-general Datuk Halimah Hassan said she had written a letter to her counterpart in the ministry of environment in Indonesia on September 15.

“We expressed concern over the increasing number of hotspots in South Sumatra and Kalimantan.

“In this regard, Malaysia has urged Indonesia to immediately implement precautions and fight the fires causing the haze.”

Domestically, from January 1 to October 6, compounds have been issued in 409 open burning cases, with 119 warning notices issued in others.

Investigation paperwork have been prepared for 47 cases to be brought to court.

No areas were listed as unhealthy yesterday, as indicated by the air pollutant index (API), with most areas at ‘good’ or ‘moderate’ levels. As of 3pm yesterday, Muar recorded the highest API reading of 94.

Readings in the Klang Valley were mostly at moderate levels and ranged between 63 and 76.

The visibility level in Petaling Jaya, which was at 6km at 8am, dropped to 1.2km at 2pm yesterday.

Visibility level in Subang Jaya dropped from 7km to 3.5km between 8am and 2pm, while remaining constant at 3km visibility in Sepang.