KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians can use the Malaysian Community Multiscale Air Quality Model (MyCMAQ) to check air pollution forecasts up to five days ahead, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said.
He said the forecasting system, developed by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), provides high-resolution forecasts of air quality and atmospheric pollutant concentrations across Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
"The platform can forecast potential air pollution and haze events up to five days ahead.
"I hope the public will refer to this platform so they can make preparations and take the necessary action for activities over the next five days," he said during Ministers' Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat.
Arthur was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Dr Richard Rapu @ Aman Begri (GPS-Betong) on measures to ensure accurate and timely air quality information amid concerns over worsening haze.
He said the system was designed to provide more responsive air quality forecasts and haze warnings that were easier for the public to understand.
"These measures are intended to benefit the public by helping provide forecasts of air quality trends and haze warnings that are more responsive and easier for all sections of society to understand," he said.
He added that Malaysia had 68 automatic air quality monitoring stations operated by the Department of Environment (DoE), which continuously monitored six major air pollutants.
He said the stations used measurement equipment based on technical methods and standards recognised by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to ensure the accuracy and reliability of official air pollution index (API) readings.
Arthur said the government recognised that some areas did not have dedicated monitoring stations, with air quality data in those locations obtained from the nearest station within the regional monitoring network.
Responding to a request for an additional monitoring station in Betong, Sarawak, he said the ministry would increase the number of stations to obtain more accurate readings in the future.
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