Haze: 40 air quality stations record unhealthy API readings

In Malaysia, forty air quality monitoring stations reported unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings today at 1pm, with Johan Setia in Selangor leading with a reading of 185. Cheras in Kuala Lumpur followed with a reading of 177, while Nilai in Negri Sembilan, Putrajaya, and Shah Alam in Selangor each recorded 175. Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur, Seremban in Negri Sembilan, Minden in Penang, and Seri Manjung in Perak reported 172, 171, 167, and 166, respectively.

Other areas with unhealthy API readings included Klang and Banting in Selangor, both at 163; Seberang Jaya in Penang, Tanjung Malim in Perak, and Kuala Selangor in Selangor, all at 162; Kuala Terengganu at 161; Seberang Perai in Penang, Tanjung Malim in Perak, and Kuala Selangor in Selangor, each at 160; Taiping in Perak and Temerloh in Pahang, both at 159; Bukit Rambai in Melaka at 158; Sungai Petani in Kedah at 157; Jerantut in Pahang at 156; Kulim Hi-Tech in Kedah, Port Dickson in Negri Sembilan, and Alor Gajah in Melaka, all at 155; Indera Mahkota Kuantan in Pahang and Tanah Merah in Kelantan, each at 154; Tangkak in Johor at 153; Pegoh Ipoh in Perak and Balok Baru Kuantan in Pahang, both at 152; Kemaman in Terengganu at 152; Bandaraya Melaka at 151; and Paka in Terengganu at 150.

The remaining stations were classified as unhealthy, with Besut in Terengganu at 130, Alor Setar in Kedah at 116, Kluang in Johor at 108, Pasir Gudang in Johor at 105, and Batu Pahat in Johor at 102. Meanwhile, 21 monitoring stations reported moderate air quality, while seven stations recorded good air quality, all located in Sarawak and Sabah.

Miri in Sarawak recorded the highest reading at 50, followed by Sri Aman, Limbang, Samalaju, Sarikei, ILP Miri, and Kota Kinabalu. API readings between 0 and 50 are considered good, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and above 300 hazardous.