35 kawasan catat IPU tak sihat, Batu Pahat tertinggi 191

Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Batu Pahat has declared all schools, kindergartens and childcare centers in the area closed starting today due to an extremely unhealthy air pollution index (IPU) reading of 191, reported the Bernama news agency. This reading is the highest among 35 districts across Malaysia, according to the Environment Department's IPU Management System portal.

The next highest IPU readings were 189 for Jawan Setia in Selangor, followed by 188 in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur and 188 in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan. Other notably unhealthy IPU readings include 177 in Batu Muda and Segamat, 176 in Bukit Rambai, 175 in Petaling Jaya and Banting, and 174 in Melaka City. The air quality is also deemed unhealthy in 31 other districts nationwide, and the air is considered good in Kangar, Perlis and Langkawi, Kedah, with readings of 41 and 31 respectively.

IPU readings 0-50 indicate good air quality, 51-100 moderate, 101-200 unhealthy, 201-300 very unhealthy, and readings above 300 hazardous. Batu Pahat's Disaster Management Committee declared the closure of all educational institutions following the IPU reading exceeding 200, in line with the National Action Plan and guidelines from the Malaysian Ministry of Education to ensure the safety and health of students and school staff.