Even small-scale open burning outside the home can affect air quality amid the ongoing haze.

A lecturer from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan says burning rubbish or leaves – which is often considered insignificant -  can actually cause smoke to accumulate and linger in a particular area…increasing the concentration of bad air in the location.

This comes as six areas in Sarawak are currently experiencing hazardous air quality levels…while a further three localities in the state are recording very unhealthy API readings.

In a related development… the National Disaster Management Agency says it will be conducting cloud seeding operations in Sarawak, Kedah and Perlis starting Thursday. 

-

The Foreign Ministry says it will prioritize updating the families of Malaysians affected by the landslide and flash flood in Nepal, before going to the media. 

It also says it will only release verified information about our citizens, amid numerous unconfirmed reports circulating on social media about the 55 Malaysians who are still unaccounted for.

-

A family of three were among four people killed in an 11-vehicle crash along the East Coast Expressway near Temerloh last night. 

The family is believed to have been making their way back from the National Day celebration in Putrajaya, when the accident occurred.

-

Separately, police have opened an investigation into the fatal collision of two passenger boats in Sungai Mersing in Johor, that killed two people and left seven others injured. 

The probe includes checking on the permits and licenses of the boats involved.

-

And… 

The National Registration Department is reminding that MyKad printing services will be temporarily down until next Monday…due to the transition to the new generation ID.