PETALING JAYA: 21 areas recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 7pm on Monday (Aug 24), according to the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS).
In Sarawak, seven areas breached the unhealthy threshold, with IPD Serian recording the highest reading nationwide at 190, followed by Kuching (181), Samarahan (172), Sri Aman (155), Mukah (151), Bintulu (136) and Miri (110).
Outside Sarawak, 14 areas also recorded unhealthy readings. In Selangor, Johan Setia recorded 164, Shah Alam 151 and Kuala Selangor 117, while Sungai Petani in Kedah recorded 154 and Alor Setar 130.
In Perak, Seri Manjung recorded 152, Tanjung Malim 145 and Tasek Ipoh 119. Cheras in Kuala Lumpur recorded 132, while Putrajaya recorded 130 and Kota Tinggi in Johor and Segamat also recorded unhealthy readings at 130 and 102 respectively.
Bukit Rambai in Melaka (118) and Minden in Pulau Pinang (103) rounded out the unhealthy list.
Among areas with the highest moderate readings were Seberang Perai in Pulau Pinang (99), Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur (99), Klang in Selangor (99), with Nilai and Seremban in Negri Sembilan both recording 99.
Meanwhile, 47 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.
