Serian recorded the country’s highest Air Pollutant Index (API) reading at 173 as of 8am today, remaining in the unhealthy category with little improvement from yesterday evening’s reading of 174.
Sri Aman followed closely at 172, while Kuching recorded an API of 132.
According to the Department of Environment’s (DoE) Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal, the other areas recording unhealthy air quality were all in the peninsula.
They included Johan Setia in Selangor at 158, Cheras at 152, Nilai and Seremban in Negri Sembilan at 131 each, Putrajaya at 124 and Alor Gajah, Melaka, at 105.
Meanwhile, 57 areas recorded moderate API readings as of 8am, with Indera Mahkota in Pahang recording the highest at 98.
In Sarawak, Samarahan recorded 98, followed by Sibu at 83, Bintulu and Sarikei at 75 each, Samalaju at 73, Miri and Mukah at 67 each, Kapit at 62, ILP Miri at 59 and Limbang at 55.
In Sabah, Politeknik Kota Kinabalu recorded 71, Kota Kinabalu 62, Tawau 61, Kimanis 58, Sandakan 56, Keningau 54 and Labuan 59.
Johor also recorded several moderate readings, with Tangkak and Larkin at 96 each, followed by Pasir Gudang at 94, Kluang at 92, Batu Pahat and Pengerang at 88 each, Kota Tinggi at 86 and Segamat at 84.
In Negri Sembilan, Port Dickson recorded 87, while Bukit Rambai and Bandaraya Melaka recorded 95 and 72 respectively.
Selangor saw Shah Alam at 94, Banting at 93, Klang at 89, Petaling Jaya at 88 and Kuala Selangor at 80, while Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur recorded 85.
In Perak, Seri Manjung recorded 93, followed by Tasek Ipoh at 87, Tanjung Malim at 81, Pegoh Ipoh at 72 and Taiping at 65.
On the east coast, Kemaman in Terengganu recorded 89, Kuala Terengganu 69 and Besut 57, while Tanah Merah and Kota Baru in Kelantan recorded 53 and 52 respectively.
Pahang recorded 86 in Rompin, 82 in Temerloh and 74 in Jerantut.
In Kedah, Sungai Petani recorded 69, Kulim Hi-Tech 62 and Alor Star 52, while Penang’s Minden recorded 79, Balik Pulau 76 and Seberang Perai 73.
Only two areas recorded good air quality — Langkawi in Kedah at 30 and Kangar in Perlis at 29.
Under the API classification, readings of 0 to 50 indicate good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy and readings above 300 hazardous.
The public can check the latest hourly API readings through the DoE website or the MyJAS EQMS mobile application.
