Penang bans open-air burning

Penang bans open-air burning

GEORGETOWN - Open-air burning has been banned as a preemptive effort by the state government in view of the haze situation.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said there was a need to take precautionary measure because of the worsening pollution in Johor and Malacca.

"The ban on open-air burning is intended to alert the public not to aggravate the air quality. We have to act early to let the people in Penang know the severity of the haze situation," he said after launching the women brigade team, comprising 314 volunteers, to assist in improving the welfare of the needy.

In Kota Baru, all staff at hospitals and health clinics were on alert to attend to those suffering from chronic respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, as a result of the haze.

State Health director Datuk Dr Ahmad Razin Ahmad Maher said all hospitals and clinics had been told to monitor the situation.

"It is important to take early preventive steps, even though Kelantan has yet to be hit by haze and the Air Pollutant Index reading is still normal."

For more haze updates from AsiaOne, click here:

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