By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Sept 1: The Kuching South City Council (MBKS) has clarified that an inaccurate advisory message displayed on its ESG smart pole during a recent spike in the Air Pollution Index (API) was caused by a technical limitation in the system’s dashboard programming.
MBKS Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng said the API reading itself remained accurate and clearly showed the hazardous level, but the dashboard’s advisory function had only been configured for readings of up to 450.
He said the system was not programmed to anticipate an API reading exceeding 450 when it was originally designed.
“When the API exceeded 450, the system continued to display the correct numerical reading, but the advisory function automatically defaulted to the message assigned to the 0–50 API or healthy range.
“This caused the inappropriate message encouraging outdoor activities to appear,” he explained at MBKS Park today.
Wee stressed that the incident did not mean MBKS had considered the air quality safe.
“The API reading clearly showed a hazardous level. The problem was a limitation in the dashboard programming when the reading went beyond the range originally configured,” he added.
He said MBKS had immediately instructed the system provider to rectify the dashboard according to the official API classifications, including ensuring that appropriate warnings would be displayed for exceptionally high readings.
“We take this seriously. The purpose of the smart pole is to provide useful and timely information to the public. When a technical limitation is identified, we correct it,” he said.
The ESG smart pole is among the first such installations in Sarawak under the State’s smart city agenda and is intended to provide useful information to the public, particularly park users.
Wee also urged members of the public who identify faults or areas for improvement to contact MBKS directly so that issues could be addressed promptly.
“If you see any fault and anything that needs to be upgraded or adjusted to make it better, by all means, contact MBKS instead of making it viral and causing embarrassment.
“We are already suffering from the haze. Our main concern is public health, not making all those accusations,” he said in responding to critics.
He also advised the public to avoid outdoor exercise when the API reaches 300, stressing that exercising outdoors under hazardous air conditions could pose health risks.
“I saw a few people exercising at the park yesterday (Aug 31) and I advised them otherwise. Please do your exercise indoors. This is how we should react in times of disaster that we are facing,” he said.
Wee said MBKS would continue improving the smart pole system to ensure the numerical reading, gauge and advisory message remained consistent across all API levels. — DayakDaily
