• Today: September 6, 2026

Bandarku Ceria suspended amid haze

The Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Department announced via social media on Saturday that all activities under the Bandarku Ceria programme will be temporarily suspended from Sunday (September 6, 2026) until further notice.

The decision was made based on the continuous assessment and monitoring of prevailing air quality conditions as reported by the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation (JASTRe).

According to the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Department, this precautionary measure has been taken to prioritise the health and safety of members of the public, vendors, and all parties involved in the weekly programme.

Meanwhile, JASTRe under the Ministry of Development has enhanced air quality reporting across Brunei Darussalam by incorporating PM2.5 concentrations into the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI), effective from 2pm on September 1, 2026.

PM2.5 refers to fine suspended particulate matter measuring less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO).

These fine particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, potentially causing adverse effects on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

JASTRe will continue to closely monitor air quality nationwide and issue PSI updates five times daily during the hazy period, at 7am, 9am, 11am, 2pm, and 4pm.

The PSI readings recorded at 4pm on Saturday registered unhealthy air quality levels nationwide, with Belait recording the highest PSI of 149, followed by Brunei-Muara at 140, while Tutong and Temburong recorded readings of 122 and 103 respectively.

Under the PSI classification, a reading below 50 is Good, 51 to 100 is Moderate, 101 to 200 is Unhealthy, 201 to 300 is Very Unhealthy, while a reading above 300 is classified as Hazardous.

Hazy condition over Brunei skies. PHOTO: JAMES KON

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has advised members of the public to take precautions when PSI readings reach the Unhealthy category, urging the public to reduce strenuous or prolonged outdoor physical activities and minimise unnecessary exposure to haze.

Children, older persons, and pregnant women are advised to restrict strenuous or prolonged outdoor activities, while individuals with existing heart or respiratory conditions are advised to avoid such activities altogether.

Those experiencing persistent or worsening symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, or difficulty breathing, are advised to seek medical attention at the nearest health centre or health facility.

Meanwhile, the public is reminded to immediately contact the Fire and Rescue Department at 995 in the event of bush or forest fires, and the public are urged to refrain from open burning and other activities that could worsen haze conditions during the dry period.

For complaints regarding open burning activities, or for health information and advice, the public may contact the Darussalam Line 123.

Further information on PSI readings is available through JASTRe and its official Instagram account, while health guidance is accessible through the MoH and its official Instagram page.

 

SOURCE/AUTHOR : BORNEO BULLETIN/JAMES KON & LYNA MOHAMAD

Venues

BSB

Comments (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!

Leave a Comment

Total visitors: 3,720,794 | Today's visitors: 20,408
Updated: 20:31:03