KUALA LUMPUR – ‘Unhealthy’ Air Pollutant Index (API) readings have returned to areas around the Peninsular as of 6pm today, despite their air quality reaching normal levels yesterday evening.
The areas which saw a major spike in API readings since 8am today include Selangor’s Banting, skyrocketing from 115 to 151, and Klang with a reading of 139, as compared to a previously moderate 97 reading.
Selangor’s Shah Alam (101), Pahang’s Indera Mahkota, Kuantan (105), and Terengganu’s Paka (119) are among the other areas that left the ‘moderate’ air quality category.
API readings are categorised as 0-50 (good), 51-100 (moderate) and 101-200 (unhealthy).
Cheras saw an increase from 153 to 154, while Batu Muda, both in Kuala Lumpur, maintained a reading of 105.
In Negri Sembilan, Seremban’s API reading dropped from 149 to 129, while Port Dickson saw a slight increase from 153 to 154 and Nilai had a maintained reading of 161.
Several other areas saw a slight decrease in API levels but are still in the unhealthy category, such as Putrajaya (137), as well as Melaka’s Alor Gajah (151), Bukit Rambai (160), and the Melaka township (152).
Several areas in Johor are also suffering from poor air quality despite a decrease in API readings, including Segamat (148), Batu Pahat (158) and Tangkak (135).
Johor’s Larkin had a major drop from 159 to 109, while Pasir Gudang and Rompin are now classified as ‘moderate’, with readings lowering from 153 to 88 and 116 to 100, respectively.
Meanwhile, areas in Sabah, Sarawak, Perlis, Kedah, Penang, and Perak, all record good and moderate API readings.
Previously, Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad had issued a letter to his Indonesian counterpart over the cross-border haze issue, under instructions from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
However, Indonesia’s Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said that there was no detection of the smoke haze spreading to Malaysia, adding that forest fires in Sumatra and Borneo have lessened.
Nonetheless, Indonesian President Joko Widodo ordered top military and police officers, as well as the regional government to take immediate action to curb forest and land fires, as the smoke could spread widely. – October 8, 2023