INTRODUCTION

What is Haze?
Haze is defined as the presence of fine particles (0.11.0 lm in diameter) dispersed at a
high concentration through a portion of the atmosphere that diminishes the horizontal
visibility, giving the atmosphere a characteristic opalescent appearance. Haze is most likely to
occur during the months from January to February and June to August every year. Several
factors such as prolonged dry weather, a stable atmosphere, and an abundant supply of
pollutants from urban or rural sources are the ideal ingredients for the formation of haze.
Winds and weather also play an important part in transport of pollution such as haze locally
and regionally.
Haze in Malaysia
Haze has been an on-going problem in many countries in the Southeast Asia region, and
Malaysia is one of the worst affected. A state of emergency was announced once in 2005
at Port Klang as the Air Pollution Index (API) went above the 500 level. Malaysia is working
with the Indonesian authorities to help curb peat fires. Malaysia and Indonesia, together with
other members of the ASEAN community, signed the ASEAN Agreement on Trans-boundary
Haze Pollution in 2002 as a result of a 1997 haze. However, Indonesia is the only country that
has not ratified the agreement. A repeat incident in 2005 and 2006 has forced Malaysia
and Singapore to pressure Indonesia to ratify it.
To date, the 2013 Southeast Asian haze affecting several countries in the Southeast Asian
region, including Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Southern Thailand, occurring
from 13 June 2013. This is the worst of haze episodes which affecting Malaysia since 2005,
starting with the Air Pollution Index (API) hitting 172 on 19 June. On 20 June, the haze in
Malaysia worsened where Johor and Malacca remained the worst-affected states. In Johor for
example, Muar recorded a hazardous API Reading, which was one of the worst among the
readings

CAUSES OF HAZE IN MALAYSIA

1. Bad Farming Practice (Forest fires)
Haze occurs when smoke from forest fires and open burning combines with local air
pollution over cities. Most burning has occurred on the Indonesian island of Sumatra
(especially the provinces of Riau and Jambi), and on the island of Borneo, which comprises
the Indonesian province of Kalimantan and the Malaysia provinces of Sabah and Sarawak.
The worst haze experienced in 1997 is due to open burning in neighbouring countries.
Sabah has been adversely affected as a result of this phenomenon. Open burning in
Kalimantan has catastrophic consequences manifest when the fire is difficult to control and
licking most of the forest. Due to the relatively close to Sabah Borneo then increasingly
alarmed residents and precautions have been made. Smoke resulting from the combustion
was covering the state and result in worsening conditions. The state had to send aid to the
Indonesian Kalimantan and Fire or to delete. State Fire and Rescue Department has sent 80 of
its members for the purpose. Incineration is not only a problem for our country but other
countries nearby such as Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines also badly polluted.
This has resulted in products of combustion gas of carbon monoxide gas is very dangerous
and can be lethal if inhaled in a long time
2. El Nino Effect
Smoke is carried by monsoonal winds most frequently to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. The
first occasion when trans-boundary haze was identified as a major problem was between July
and October 1997, and was exacerbated by unusually long droughts connected to El Nio
(Eaton and Radojovic, 2001). Haze, however, has returned in years unaffected by El Nio,
most seriously in 2005, 2006, and 2013. In 2013 a new record for air pollution was set in
Singapore when the local Air Pollution Index reached an all-time high of 401.

3. Fuel Burning
Combustion of fuels such as coal and oil also is a major cause of air pollution also
fuels are organic and have the carbon. Incomplete combustion will produce carbon
monoxide. Charcoal is a sulphur-containing substance. When burning sulphur will
combine with oxygen to produce sulphur dioxide around by the equation: S + 2O2 = SO4.
Sulphur dioxide will then combine with the hydrogen ions in vapour in the air and form
acid sulphurs. In addition, carbon dioxide also combines with hydrogen ions and form
carbonic acid.
4. Municipal Process
Moreover, the existence of this haze is a result of the urbanization process has
encouraged the development of a city and there are industrial locations that provide
opportunities. This problem exists as a result of either the natural population increase or
migration. So the increase in the number of industrial areas will produce a positive and
negative impact on the lives of modern society.
5. Black Smoke Emission from Factory Chimney
In addition, increased industrialization brought many pollutants that are discharged by
the industry through the process of fuel combustion. If these contaminants are not
controlled, human life will be affected. It is because people are living around the
contaminated environment as emissions from factories, toxic gases, smoke, and dust and
so on. Thus, the outcome of this situation will be harmful to human health because these
pollutants can cause shortness of breath among asthma, itchy nose, burning eyes and so
on