PETALING JAYA: Kapit in Sarawak recorded a good Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 46 as of 8am on Saturday (Oct 17), according to the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS).
It was the only area to record a good reading, while the number of areas in the unhealthy range fell to 24 from 27 as of 6pm on Friday (Oct 17).
Pasir Gudang in Johor had the highest reading nationwide at 198, one point lower than at 6pm on Friday and just short of the very unhealthy range. Larkin, which recorded 198 at that time, fell to 178.
All 24 areas were also unhealthy at 6pm on Friday. Sixteen recorded lower readings, six recorded higher readings and two were unchanged.
Johor had the most unhealthy areas with eight, followed by Selangor with five. Negri Sembilan and Melaka had three each.
In Johor, Pasir Gudang (198) was followed by Larkin (178), Pengerang (175), Kota Tinggi (173), Batu Pahat (170), Tangkak (167), Segamat (160) and Kluang (159). Three of the eight areas recorded higher readings than on Friday evening.
In Negri Sembilan, the readings were Nilai (174), Seremban (171) and Port Dickson (158), while in Melaka they were Bandaraya Melaka (169), Bukit Rambai (166) and Alor Gajah (165).
In Selangor, the areas were Johan Setia (172), Klang (171), Petaling Jaya (169), Shah Alam (168) and Banting (152). Cheras (161) and Batu Muda (158) in WP Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (162) were also in the unhealthy range.
Two areas in Sabah, Sandakan (155) and Tawau (151), were also unhealthy.
Seri Manjung and Tanjung Malim in Perak, as well as Kuala Selangor in Selangor, have dropped out of the unhealthy range since 6pm on Friday. No new areas were added, and Perak no longer has any unhealthy areas.
The highest moderate readings were recorded in Tanjung Malim in Perak (92), Kuala Selangor in Selangor (92), Seri Manjung in Perak (87), Tasek Ipoh in Perak (82), Temerloh in Pahang (82) and Indera Mahkota Kuantan in Pahang (81).
They were followed by Rompin in Pahang (79) and Pegoh Ipoh in Perak (76), while Seberang Perai and Minden in Pulau Pinang and Labuan were tied at 73.
Meanwhile, 43 areas around the country recorded API readings at the moderate level.
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.
