Southern peninsula continues to record unhealthy air quality as haze lingers

Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Johor remain hard hit by haze, with every area listed in the three states recording unhealthy air pollutant index (API) readings this morning.

As of 10am, 37 areas nationwide recorded unhealthy API readings while another 31 recorded moderate air quality. No area recorded good air quality, but none registered very unhealthy or hazardous readings.

Negeri Sembilan recorded the country’s highest readings, with Seremban at 185, Nilai at 183 and Port Dickson at 174.

In Melaka, Bukit Rambai and Melaka City both recorded readings of 184, while Alor Gajah registered 178.

In Johor, Segamat and Pasir Gudang recorded readings of 183 each, followed by Tangkak at 181, Kluang and Larkin at 175 each, Pengerang at 172, Batu Pahat at 169 and Kota Tinggi at 167.

Unhealthy air quality was also recorded across Selangor, with Johan Setia registering 182, Shah Alam 178, Petaling Jaya 169, Banting 168, Klang 166 and Kuala Selangor 152.

Batu Muda and Cheras in Kuala Lumpur, as well as Putrajaya, recorded an API reading of 170 each.

In Perak, Tasek Ipoh recorded 179, Tanjung Malim 174, Pegoh Ipoh 173 and Seri Manjung 159. Taiping recorded a lower reading of 130.

In Pahang, Rompin registered 169, Indera Mahkota in Kuantan 162 and Temerloh 154.

Further north, Kedah’s Sungai Petani and Alor Setar recorded 156 and 153, respectively, while Kemaman in Terengganu registered 153.

Educational institutions in Selangor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya were ordered to close from today amid the worsening haze. Schools in Johor will remain closed until tomorrow.

Under the closure directives, schools in areas recording API readings above 180 are to close, while those in areas with readings above 150 for three consecutive days will close from Oct 12.

An API reading between 101 and 200 is classified as unhealthy, while readings above 200 are considered very unhealthy.

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