KUALA LUMPUR: The thick gray cloud of haze that has struck fear in Malaysia's residents over health concerns and pollution, appears to be moving north. According to the Department of Environment's Air Pollutant Index (API), the Selangor area has seen the worst of the haze leave the area, heading north to Perak, Penang, Kedah and Kelantan. The air quality index has dropped below the unhealthy level of 100 on the API and the government has said it is safe for residents to venture outside without a mask covering their face, although the northern areas face some risk. “We are watching the situation closely and will be issuing warnings and advice to citizens in affected areas," a department statement to Bikyamasr.com said. The DOE classifies API readings of between 0 and 50 as Good, 51-100 as Moderate, 101-200 as Unhealthy, 201-300 as Very Unhealthy, and more than 301 as Hazardous. In the affected areas, the API is above 100, but still remains below 150. The government hopes the haze will leave the country in the near future, but experts and the department have no timetable expected for its departure. It was previously reported that the haze originated from peat and forest fires in Riau, the central Sumatran district of Indonesia, with the south-westerly wind blowing it across the Straits of Malacca. The Health Department issued an advisory late on Friday for affected members of the public to reduce their outdoor activities. “Be indoors all the time. If you have to be outside, do wear the right masks," the department said in a statement.
