Sarawak and Selangor bear the brunt as 34 stations log ‘Unhealthy’ API levels in Malaysia

Malaysia's air quality deteriorated significantly on September 18, with 34 monitoring stations nationwide recording "Unhealthy" Air Pollutant Index (API) levels, according to the Department of Environment (DoE). Readings ranged from 104 to 198, indicating widespread haze coverage across Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak. Johan Setia in Selangor recorded the worst air quality at 198, just two points shy of the 200 mark that triggers a "Very Unhealthy" classification.

The most severely affected locations were concentrated in Sarawak and the central-southern peninsula, with Kuching, Samarahan, Nilai, and IPD Serian among the top four. Sarawak emerged as the most affected state overall, with eight monitoring stations entering the unhealthy range. Elevated levels were also recorded in six other Selangor stations, including Johan Setia, Shah Alam, Banting, Petaling Jaya, Klang, and Kuala Selangor.

Central and southern regions bore the brunt of the haze, with Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Nilai, Seremban, and Alor Gajah among the affected stations. In Johor, Tangkak, Segamat, Batu Pahat, Kluang, and Larkin recorded unhealthy air quality levels. Perak and the East Coast also saw several stations with unhealthy API readings, with Seri Manjung and Tasek Ipoh leading the way in Perak, and Temerloh and Jerantut on the East Coast.

The lowest readings among the affected stations were recorded in Mukah (104) and Jerantut (107). The DoE continues round-the-clock air quality surveillance, with conditions expected to fluctuate based on wind direction and regional hotspot activity.