- Title: MALAYSIA: Pollution from Indonesian forest fires engulf Kuala Lumpur
- Date: 24th June 2013
- Summary: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (JUNE 24, 2013) (REUTERS) KUALA LUMPUR CITY CENTRE TOP OF TWIN TOWERS VARIOUS OF KUALA LUMPUR BUILDINGS ENGULFED IN HAZE TWIN TOWERS KUALA LUMPUR LOOKING TOWARDS SELANGOR STATE DIRECTION BUILDINGS ENGULFED IN HAZE VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC STORY TO FOLLOW:
- Embargoed: 9th July 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Malaysia
- City:
- Country: Malaysia
- Topics: Disasters
- Reuters ID: LVA5D9RWDUKTITDTGXE3JJW59EFP
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Haze continued to shroud Kuala Lumpur's skies on Monday (June 24) with the Department of Environment's Air Pollutant Index (API) above 'unhealthy' levels.
Schools in Kuala Lumpur and its neighbouring states of Selangor and Malacca were all closed for the day.
On Sunday (June 23) Malaysia declared a state of emergency in two parts of the southern state of Johor bordering Singapore, as smoke from land-clearing fires in Indonesia pushed air pollution index to above hazardous level.
The illegal burning of forests and other land on Indonesia's Sumatra island, to the west of peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, to clear space for palm oil plantations is a chronic problem during the June-September dry season.
Indonesian officials have deflected blame by suggesting companies based in Malaysia and Singapore may be partly responsible. Malaysia-listed Sime Darby and Singapore's Wilmar Group both deny the charge.
Malaysian Minister of Environment Seri G. Palanivel is expected to arrive in Jakarta on Wednesday (June 26) to discuss the issue with his counterpart. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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