Sarikei recorded the highest Air Pollutant Index (API) reading in Malaysia at 194 as of 8am today, with 15 areas nationwide recording unhealthy air quality amid the ongoing transboundary haze.
Data from the Department of Environment’s (DOE) Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal showed Sarawak accounting for 10 of the 15 locations in the unhealthy category.
Serian recorded the country’s second-highest reading at 188, followed by Samarahan at 181 and Kuching at 172. Other Sarawak locations in the unhealthy range were Samalaju (164), Sri Aman (158), Sibu (155), Mukah (153) and Bintulu (106).
Outside Sarawak, Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur recorded an API reading of 166. Johor also reported unhealthy readings in Kluang (149), Larkin (146) and Batu Pahat (143), while Pasir Gudang recorded 105.
Bukit Rambai in Melaka completed the list of unhealthy locations with a reading of 104.
Meanwhile, 22 locations nationwide were in the Moderate category but recorded API readings of 80 or higher, putting them close to the unhealthy threshold of 101.
Cheras in Kuala Lumpur recorded the highest reading in this group at 99, followed by Seremban, Alor Gajah, Tangkak and Segamat, all at 98. Nilai and Pengerang recorded 96, while Tasek Ipoh stood at 95.
Other areas recording relatively high Moderate readings included Johan Setia in Selangor (94), Kota Tinggi (91), ILP Miri in Sarawak (90), Putrajaya (88), Balok Baru Kuantan (88), Jerantut (85), Tanjung Malim (84), Temerloh (84), Seri Manjung (83), Indera Mahkota Kuantan (83), Shah Alam (82), Banting (80), Bandaraya Melaka (80) and Kemaman (80).
Haze has affected large parts of Sarawak since late August, with Serian previously recording hazardous API readings above 300 amid continued hotspot activity in Kalimantan and Sumatra.
Under the API classification, readings from zero to 50 indicate good air quality, 51 to 100 are considered moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, while readings above 300 are classified as hazardous.
The public can check the latest hourly API readings through the DOE website or the MyJAS EQMS mobile application.
