Haze blankets 38 areas as Segamat records highest API reading of 186

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 38 air quality monitoring stations nationwide recorded unhealthy readings as of 8.40am today, with Segamat, Johor, recording the highest Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 186.

According to the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS), the remaining 30 stations recorded moderate readings. None recorded good, very unhealthy or hazardous readings.

Nilai, Negri Sembilan, recorded the second-highest reading at 183, followed by Seremban (181), Pasir Gudang, Johor (180), and Kluang, Johor (179).

Larkin in Johor and Johan Setia in Selangor each recorded 178, while Rompin, Pahang, recorded 174.

Johor had the most stations in the unhealthy range, with all eight monitoring stations recording readings above 100.

Besides Segamat, Pasir Gudang, Kluang and Larkin, the stations were Tangkak (171), Pengerang (165), Kota Tinggi (164) and Batu Pahat (161).

Selangor had six stations in the unhealthy range — Johan Setia (178), Shah Alam (169), Banting (167), Petaling Jaya and Klang (165 each), and Kuala Selangor (156).

Pahang recorded four unhealthy readings — Rompin (174), Balok Baru in Kuantan (165), Indera Mahkota in Kuantan (164) and Temerloh (153).

In Negri Sembilan, Port Dickson recorded 168, in addition to Nilai and Seremban.

Melaka had three stations in the unhealthy range — Bukit Rambai (172), Melaka City (171) and Alor Gajah (167).

In the Klang Valley, Cheras and Putrajaya each recorded 173, while Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur recorded 168.

Perak recorded five unhealthy readings — Seri Manjung (160), Tasek Ipoh (159), Taiping (154), Pegoh Ipoh (153) and Tanjung Malim (152).

Penang had three — Seberang Perai (155), Minden (154) and Seberang Jaya (152), while Sungai Petani, Kedah, recorded 152.

Terengganu's Kemaman and Paka recorded 155 and 151, respectively.

An API reading of 0 to 50 indicates good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and 301 and above hazardous.

Haze conditions in Johor worsened last night, with all eight of the state's air quality monitoring stations recording unhealthy API readings as of 8pm.

The readings came after the state government announced that all schools in Johor would be closed today and Friday as a precautionary measure.

The worsening haze in Johor comes amid a wider regional haze situation, with neighbouring Indonesia also affected by wildfires.

AFP reported that Indonesia's government had been accused of "gross negligence" in a lawsuit over toxic haze from wildfires that blanketed parts of Borneo.

Four plaintiffs, including a local chapter of Indigenous NGO AMAN, filed the class action lawsuit last month at a court in Pontianak in West Kalimantan province.