KUALA LUMPUR: The haze situation nationwide showed great improvement in its latest Air Pollutant Index (API) reading as of 1pm with only 13 areas recording unhealthy readings.
Langkawi recorded the highest reading at 153 followed by Penang’s USM, Sebarang Jaya2 (both at 150) and Perai at 134.
In Kedah, Alor Star recorded 135, Bakar Arang, Sg Petani at 130 while in Malacca, Bandaraya Melaka at 106 and Bukit Rambai at 105.
Another eight areas with unhealthy API are: Perak- Jalan Tasek, Ipoh (107), SK Jalan Pegoh, Ipoh (129), Kg Air Putih, Taiping (140) and Seri Manjung (126). In Perlis, Kangar recorded an API of 121.
The haze situation in Sabah and Sarawak improved tremendously as only Tawau recorded an API of 52 (moderate) while eight other areas recorded good air quality.
Meanwhile 13 areas in Peninsular Malaysia recorded moderate API readings.
Earlier, the Langkawi International Airport was closed at 8.25 due to poor visibility.
Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB) in a statement said the runways were closed after visibility drop below 500 metre.
The operations were back to normal at noon.