Aviation and maritime sectors in Malaysia have been ordered to be on high alert due to the worsening haze situation across the country, reports The Star newspaper. (See story here.)
Malaysian Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the Marine Department and Civil Aviation Department had issued warnings in view of the reduced visibility in some major cities and towns.
Two commercial flights had so far been diverted due to the haze, he said.
Before the AirAsia flight re-routing to Phuket today, a Tiger Airways flight from Singapore to Ipoh was forced to land at the KL International Airport yesterday (Sept 12) as the visibility at Ipoh Airport had dropped to less than 900-metres.
Minister Liow added that some maritime activities would have to be stopped if visibility dropped below one-nautical mile.