Batu Pahat tops API readings at 190, 32 locations unhealthy

KUALA LUMPUR: Batu Pahat recorded the country's highest Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 190 as of 8am today, as worsening haze affected several areas in Johor and Negeri Sembilan.

According to data from the Department of Environment's Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS), Larkin, Pasir Gudang, and Tangkak recorded an API of 185.

Seremban registered an API of 184, followed by Segamat at 181 and Nilai at 180.

As of 8am, 32 locations nationwide recorded unhealthy API readings, while 36 showed moderate air quality. No locations recorded good or hazardous air quality.

In the Klang Valley, at least nine locations, including Putrajaya, Cheras, and Shah Alam, recorded unhealthy API levels above 101.

The worsening conditions prompted authorities to implement precautionary measures, including school closures in severely affected areas.

The current haze episode is linked to forest and peatland fires in neighbouring Indonesia, where dry weather has accelerated the spread of fire and smoke across the region.

Malaysia and Indonesia are stepping up cooperation to tackle transboundary haze through hotspot monitoring, enforcement against open burning, and enhanced firefighting measures.

Both nations have also discussed potential cloud-seeding operations and resource-sharing, with Malaysia continuing to engage Indonesia and other Asean members on the recurring issue.

The haze remains a recurring regional environmental problem during prolonged dry spells, when smoke from Indonesian land fires drifts across national borders.

Malaysia continues to monitor air quality through APIMS, issue health advisories, and coordinate agency responses when API readings reach unhealthy levels.

The Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, adopted in 2002, serves as the regional framework for member states to prevent, monitor, and mitigate land and forest fires.