KUALA LUMPUR: Four areas in Sarawak continued to record hazardous-level Air Pollutant Index (API) readings above 300 as of 6pm on Monday (Aug 31), with 18 other areas nationwide recording API readings at the unhealthy level or higher.
According to the Environment Department’s APIMS website, IPD Serian was the worst-hit at 438, followed by Kuching (376), Samarahan (353) and Sri Aman (335).
Four other areas in Sarawak recorded ‘very unhealthy’ readings, namely Sarikei (285), Sibu (249), Mukah (217) and Samalaju (205).
Other affected areas in Sarawak were Bintulu (182), ILP Miri (176), Miri (176), Kapit (168), and Limbang (163). Sabah was also affected, with Kota Kinabalu recording a reading of 154, Kimanis (152), Keningau (103), and Tawau (102).
In Kedah, Sungai Petani hit 154, while in Penang, Seberang Perai recorded a reading of 152, Seberang Jaya (146) and Minden (145).
Meanwhile, Labuan recorded a reading of 165.
41 other areas in the country recorded moderate API readings, and three areas had good air quality.
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.
Earlier, Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said areas recording an API reading of 500 and above would be referred to the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) for further action under disaster management procedures.
“If an emergency is enforced, all offices and public and private sectors in the affected areas will be closed, with only essential services allowed to operate,” he said.
The public can monitor the latest API readings via the APIMS website at https://eqms.doe.gov.my/APIMS/
