I am both impressed and dejected – impressed by the professionalism of the Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA) in recording and posting on its website the hourly Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) to provide accurate and timely information about air pollution levels in the island republic; dejected by the contrasting failure and lack of professionalism of the Malaysian Department of Environment (DOE) to provide prompt readings on its website of the Air Pollutant Index (API) from its 52 Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) locations in the country, although the API readings are only provided thrice a day at 7am, 11 am and 5 pm.
I was checking the 11 am API readings on the DOE website,
http://doe.gov.my/apims/, but the results only appeared after more than two hours, i.e. after 1 pm.
In contrast, when I checked the PSI readings of the Singapore NEA, its 1 pm reading promptly appeared at 1 pm sharp.
I can understand that with 52 API readings from 52 APIM locations throughout Malaysia, it is not practically possible to post the latest API readings for all the 52 locations on the dot of time, i.e. results for 11 am posted immediately at 11 am, but surely, it does not have to take more than two hours to post the latest API readings on its website.
Is it being unreasonable to expect the latest API readings to be posted within 10 minutes of the given time, i.e. 7 am, 11 am and 5 pm, if the system is efficient and professional?
Furthermore, why is it not possible for the DOE to post its API readings hourly?
This is an example where the new Environment Minister Datuk Seri S. Palanivel is sleeping on his job when Malaysians particularly in Johore are suffering from the haze hazards.
From the 11 am API (*) readings, Muar air quality deteriorated swiftly in the four hours from 7 am when it was “very unhealthy” with API 276 worsening to the hazardous level of 373, while the other three APIM locations in Johore continued on the higher side of the “unhealthy” levels, viz:
| Location | 7 am | 11 am |
|---|---|---|
| Kota Tinggi | 191 | 187 |
| Larkin Lama | 175 | 170 |
| Muar | 276 | 373 |
| Pasir Gudang | 192 | 190 |
It is regrettable that despite the haze emergency in Johore, the Department of Environment has failed to set up more APIM locations in the state to monitor the air pollution readings – such as Kulai, Pontian, Batu Pahat, Kluang, Segamat etc. This is another example of Pananivel sleeping on his job as Environment Minister.
Other critical areas with “unhealthy” API readings at 11 am today are:
| Malacca | 176 | 178 |
| Bukit Rambai | 189 | 182 |
| Nilai | 119 | 113 |
| Port Dickson | 156 | 141 |
| Seremban | 106 | 109 |
| Port Klang | 118 | 139 |
* The Department of Environment lists API levels from 51 to 100 as moderate, 101 to 200 as unhealthy, and 201 to 300 as very unhealthy. Levels above 301 are dangerous.
#1 by DAP man on Saturday, 22 June 2013 - 5:46 pm
Kit,
How can you compare Singapore with Malaysia. It’s like comparing a race horse to a donkey.
One is an advanced country and the other is ruled by lazy country bumpkins.
One believes in efficiency and promptness. The other moves like a tortoise with sense of urgency.
One is squeaky clean and the other is utterly corrupt.
That’s why is RM 2.51 to SG 1.00.
Malaysia can never outdo Singapore is any field.
#2 by cemerlang on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 8:38 am
Size matters
#3 by Di Shi Jiu on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 10:53 am
DAP man,
“Malaysia can never outdo Singapore is any field.”
Sorry to disagree with you.
One Malaysian politician can easily “out-corrupt” ten Singaporean politicians :)
Hehheheheh!!!
#4 by Bunch of Suckers on Saturday, 22 June 2013 - 7:13 pm
The sucker just cracking his balls in office! Why he bother about PSI??? His office has air-conditioner on! Not going to affect him or whatever!!
#5 by Winston on Saturday, 22 June 2013 - 8:44 pm
Looks like the haze problem will be solved by Singapore.
This country with its you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours will never do anything about it!
#6 by cemerlang on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 8:38 am
Money as solution
#7 by Bigjoe on Saturday, 22 June 2013 - 8:56 pm
Singapore got Vivian Balakrishnan, President Scholar, Eye Surgeon, Major-General Singapore Arm Forces, Chief Executive of its largest hospital, we got Palanivel his resume summed up as Samy Vellu’s sycophant.
It was incredible watching Palanivel so out of depth with the problem – he even said he was going to do what the Vivian already done..
#8 by cemerlang on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 8:41 am
Never compare. It’s not a 1 man show. You have to lead your team members. Lead them along a straight path and they will follow you like a straight path. Lead them along a winding path, you might lose them along the way.
#9 by Di Shi Jiu on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 11:00 am
BigJoe,
ROFLMAO when reading your comparison between Balakrishnan and Palanivel :)
I shouldn’t laugh because it shows the stark difference in approach towards appointing Ministers.
Singapore appoints on the basis of merit, quality and skill.
Malaysia appoints on the basis of boot-licking and arse-kissing.
#10 by cinaindiamelayubersatu on Saturday, 22 June 2013 - 9:05 pm
macam bumi dengan langit. bola pun kalah. seperkara yang kita hebat dari depa ialah kita kuat makan..
#11 by cemerlang on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 8:43 am
Different systems. If you use their system here, you will need a continuous dose of Panadol.
#12 by Winston on Saturday, 22 June 2013 - 9:07 pm
Everyone in this country knows that the ruling party is not there for the sake of delivering what should be delivered.
#13 by cemerlang on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 8:44 am
Too much scratching of each other’s backs and owing thingy going on.
#14 by Winston on Saturday, 22 June 2013 - 9:43 pm
Well, well, well.
Looks like the Indonesian government is stating the the haze is caused by big Malaysian conglomerates located there.
And as such they can’t do anything about the haze!
Excuses like these are also the stock replies of the Malaysian ruling party when accused of anything.
They’ll just talk cock!!!
#15 by cemerlang on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 8:46 am
Rich people can invest anywhere in the world. But that particular country must have some standards. It is polluting the air. So what is that international policy with regards to protecting the environment ? Go green. How to go green when all the green trees and grass are burned out ?
#16 by tuahpekkong on Saturday, 22 June 2013 - 10:20 pm
Singapore is internationally renowned for its efficiency but we are notorious for our tardiness. Singapore officials work 8 hour per day, how many hours do our people work? I had requested more than 5 weeks ago from the police for an accident report and the police decision but till today, I have yet to receive the report. Luckily, I still managed to renew my insurance without losing my NCB. One good thing here is that you can accuse them of being inefficient but they are not ashamed of it.
#17 by cemerlang on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 8:47 am
What does the head want ? And this head goes straight up to
#18 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 12:09 am
Palanivel,
Aiyoyo …. Muar 453!
Aiyo..aiyo….aiyo.
Translated:
Need medicine, need medicine, need medicine.
#19 by cemerlang on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 8:47 am
Overdosage of sedative
#20 by quigonbond on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 6:50 am
Is it possible that there is some incentive in delaying the solution to the haze problem? After all, bad weather brings out less crowds to protest rallies. It’s political benefit overriding public health.
#21 by cemerlang on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 8:49 am
Why didn’t the green supporters come out ? Everybody has their own agenda. Freedom from pollution of the environment.
#22 by ReformMalaysia on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 7:27 am
What can you expect of this BN regime?
1. When you protest against Electoral fraud….
-The will ask you to migrate to a country where you agree with their electoral system
2.When you mention about some country where free education is provided by the government,
– they will say.. LISTEN..LISTEN..LISTEN.. if you don’t like the way the status quo are, you migrate…. to the country that you mentioned…
3. When the Mongolian delegation at the Global Summit of Women in Kuala Lumpur has urged the Malaysian government to provide answers on the mysterious death of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu in Malaysia.
— BN government said the case already handled…. hired killers caught/charged in court… The Hirer /Principal never being charged
4. When Indian/Chinese complained about being treatedd as 2nd class or 3rd class Citizen, there were asked to “go back to IndiA or China…
So in this UMNO led government…. mediocrity and fraudulent ways is their rights…. don’t question their rights!
#23 by cemerlang on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 8:56 am
Nail polish are better done and stays instead of the indecible election ink .
What free ? You mean owe ? It is compulsory you pay back.
Case too complicated.
Cannot understand the importance of trade, immigration and money.
#24 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 7:34 am
Palanivel,
Aiyoyo…… when are u meeting Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
By the way, Palanivel, SBY is Indonesian President, not Indonesian dangdut diva, ok?
#25 by cemerlang on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 8:57 am
Follow the protocol. Same status meet same status. Who do you think he is ?
#26 by danwhw on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 8:46 am
What happen to the so called cloud seeding? The government doing it or just another gimmick to cash in more. Just like the election blue ink, spend millions on a ink & somebody somewhere is filthy rich now..or the seed didn’t grow in the cloud cos cheap seed but claim A1 seeds? Instead of lending our seeds to Indonesia show the nation first the seeds really working. Till now I think those effected baldly state do not have a single drop of rain!
#27 by negarawan on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 10:18 am
Palanivel, please practise some real leadership. Get out of your comfortable seat and do some work! If you have to be told this, then you should not be an MP or minister! We know how you got there, together with the other UMNO crooks!
#28 by Winston on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 10:27 am
Well, well, well.
The Indons are indeed very strange creatures!
Their government just raise the bus fare by the equivalent of 10 Malaysian sen and they’ll demonstrate and raise hell!
But they are oblivious to the actual hell caused by the widespread burning of a massive number of chopped trees!!
#29 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 11:05 am
Aiyoyo, palani…..
Muar API 745!
Mati, mati, mati lo.
#30 by Di Shi Jiu on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 11:15 am
Mr Lim,
Palanivel has probably fallen asleep while waiting for that page to load – if and when it does load at all!!!
#31 by PRmaju on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 12:02 pm
What ? you mean I have to work on those thing? Isn’t it a standard thing we politicians only work during election, after that, we need to shown face or talk rubbish.
#32 by propertymalaysia on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 12:12 pm
This morning, we are feel so sick of the air quality in Klang Valley. Imagine how much worse is JB air quality that is 7 times more than KL.
I am sad, sick and tired of the authorities being too slow to respond to the situation, too slow in updating the rakyat and the issue has been many years, yet every time of this year, we are made to suffer. Who will compensate our medical bills, long term health issues and should our government send the task force to Indonesia to help extinguish the fire (on our tax payer’s money)
#33 by Winston on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 3:27 pm
This problem must be solved once and for all.
Malaysia and Singapore cannot afford to take the lame excuses regularly trotted out by the idiotic Indons for the past decade or more.
As far as the Indon government is concerned, perhaps it is using this haze to reduce their population!!
By damaging their health!!!
#34 by cinaindiamelayubersatu on Sunday, 23 June 2013 - 5:27 pm
belum ada orang mati ma…
#35 by assamlaksa on Monday, 24 June 2013 - 8:57 am
Does our Minister knows his job?
Haze: Cloud seeding to be carried out in worst hit areas, says Palanivel
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/6/23/nation/20130623143847&sec=nation
Haze: Cloud seeding useless for now, says DOE
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/6/23/nation/20130623202106&sec=nation
#36 by assamlaksa on Monday, 24 June 2013 - 10:22 am
Malaysia is at least 30 years behind Singapore and is stagnant. The easy way out taken by the DOE is to pull the plug off so that the public cannot access the website and therefore cannot compliant that the info is late.
#37 by TheWrathOfGrapes on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 - 11:11 am
Does that mean China, India and the USA will be slower than Malaysia? Should Penang do better because it is smaller than Singapore?