PETALING JAYA: 12 areas recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 8pm on Saturday (Aug 22), according to the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS).
In Sarawak, 10 areas breached the unhealthy threshold, with IPD Serian recording the highest reading nationwide at 198, followed by Kuching (191), Sri Aman (179), Samarahan (178), Sarikei (168), Mukah (158), Sibu (158), Bintulu (156), Samalaju (153) and Miri (110).
Outside Sarawak, Bukit Rambai in Melaka recorded an unhealthy reading of 153, while Tanjung Malim in Perak recorded 114.
Among the areas with the highest moderate readings were Johan Setia in Selangor (99), Seberang Perai in Pulau Pinang (92), Minden in Pulau Pinang (91), Shah Alam in Selangor (91) and Alor Setar in Kedah (90).
Kapit in Sarawak (90), Seri Manjung in Perak (89), Nilai in Negeri Sembilan (87), Tasek Ipoh in Perak (86) and Labuan (86) also recorded elevated moderate readings.
Meanwhile, 56 areas around the country recorded API readings at the moderate level, while no areas recorded good readings.
API readings of between zero and 50 indicate good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, while readings above 300 are categorised as hazardous.
API data is released hourly based on readings from 68 air quality monitoring stations nationwide.
