GEORGE TOWN, June 25 – The Penang government has acquired 200,000 pieces of three-layered face masks for distribution to the public in the wake of the worsening haze situation in the state.
State Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh (photo) said priority would be given to students, senior citizens and tourists.
“The government initially wanted to acquire the N95 industrial face masks but the type was reported to have run out of stock following the Singapore government’s purchase of one million pieces,” he said when contacted by Bernama here today.
He said the Air Pollutant Index (API) here was presently moderate at 72, while it was 79 around Seberang Jaya and 70 around Universiti Sains Malaysia.
He warned that stern action would be taken against open-burning culprits, where factories could be imposed a compound of up to RM500,000 and residents given a caution even though the activity might have been for religious purposes, to avoid aggravating the situation.
The air pollution level is categorised as hazardous when the API reading is 301 or more; very unhealthy at 201 to 300; unhealthy at 101 to 200; moderate at 51 to 100 and good at zero to 50.
– BERNAMA
