PETALING JAYA: Air Pollutant Index measurements along almost the entire Malaysian west coast opposite Sumatra island are now at unhealthy levels above 150.
Heavy open burning on thousands of hectares of agricultural land in Sumatra is being detected by satellite as hotspots in the Regional Haze Situation data of the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre website, with persistent south-west monsoon winds blowing the smoke directly to Malaysia.
Only a few areas in Johor, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Kedah and Perlis record API readings of below 100.
30 areas recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 12pm on Monday (Aug 25), according to the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS).
IPD Serian in Sarawak recorded the country's highest reading at 181, followed by Johan Setia in Selangor (175), Sri Aman in Sarawak (170), Shah Alam in Selangor (162), Kuching in Sarawak (161), Tanjung Malim in Perak and Samarahan in Sarawak (each 156).
Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur, Minden in Pulau Pinang, Kuala Selangor in Selangor, Nilai in Negri Sembilan, Bukit Rambai in Melaka, and Putrajaya each recorded a reading of 155.
In Perak, Tasek Ipoh and Taiping recorded readings of 154, whereas Seri Manjung recorded 153.
Other areas recorded unhealthy readings, including Klang in Selangor, Sungai Petani in Kedah, Petaling Jaya in Selangor, Seremban in Negri Sembilan, Batu Pahat and Tangkak in Johor, Sarikei in Sarawak and Alor Gajah in Melaka (each 152), Pegoh Ipoh in Perak, Segamat in Johor and Seberang Perai in Pulau Pinang (each 151), Banting in Selangor (150).
Two areas recorded unhealthy levels below 150 are Balik Pulau in Pulau Pinang (149) and Kota Tinggi in Johor (112).
37 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.
